Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has shared that she has shaved her head as her cancer treatment continues.
On Instagram, the 33-year-old shared a video of herself along with her loved ones taking turns to cut a lock of hair before it is cut short and shaved off.
In a caption to the emotional video she shared that shaving her head and “taking control” was the “hardest step so far”.
She wrote: “I tried my best to save it.I know it’s only hair but these past few months I’ve had what feels like so much taken away from me that has made me not feel like Amy.
“I’m missing every possible aspect of dancing.
“I just wanted to keep my identity with my hair and I tried telling myself it wouldn’t go.”
She added that she would “dread the pain” of waking up every day with more hair going.
The Caerphilly-born dancer was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in July and has been sharing her experiences on social media.
In April she first discovered a lump, a day before she was due to go on her honeymoon in the Maldives with her husband Ben.
She then underwent a mastectomy, but was told the tumours had spread and another type of cancer was discovered.
Dowden added: “I’ve not been able to take control of this journey so far, but as you can see with some of my loved ones I took the courage and control.
“It’s going to take some time to get use to and learn to love and embrace but, I’m now focussing-not on the hair I’m losing but the hair I’m going to get back and the happy dancing, tea lover who talks way to fast whilst rolling every rrrrr who is still there inside with or without hair!
“Since taking control, I feel I can now see the finish line. This for me was a hurdle I couldn’t even bring myself to think or speak about. I’ve done it and I’ve also crossed the halfway chemo line!
“I’m feeling empowered and positive!”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
