BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden says 'what a difference' as she recalls parent's struggle amid cancer diagnosis

Amy Dowden has reflected on the challenging year not just she but her family have faced after enjoying a well-deserved holiday with her husband Ben Jones and her parents. The Strictly Come Dancing star ditched the UK for Portugal last weekend.

Amy has been sharing updates on social media from the trip as she and Ben were joined by her beloved parents, Richard and Gillian, as they spent some quality time in the sun together

But there was one thing Amy was keen to let fans know, is that she never forgets to apply sun protection cream following her battle with cancer. Last May, the Welsh star was diagnosed with breast cancer and her treatment meant she couldn't take part in last year’s series of Strictly.

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While she appears to be enjoying her time away, she posted a snap of a tube of sun cream and captioned the post on her Instagram Story: "Always now! How cancer has changed me.".

Fast forward to Saturday and as the family rounded off their trip, Amy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last May before undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment, reflected on the 12 months that have since passed and shared her gratitude for fellow dancer Ben and her mum and dad.

Sharing a picture of the foursome as they enjoyed a glamourous boat trip, the dancer wrote on Instagram: "Thank you for the best time but everything you've done for me this past year! What a difference a year makes!"

Amy, 33, continued: "Mum and da was by mine and Ben's side every step of the way last year. Ben always joked when they was with us his towel had never