Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Amy Dowden has posted an emotional video showing her getting her head shaved.
The Welsh dancer, who has taken part in the BBC dance show for six seasons, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May.
On Thursday, she posted an Instagram video of her in a kitchen sitting on a chair, while her friends and family members one by one cut off a section of her hair, before she gets it shaved off fully.
Captioning the video, she wrote: "This too shall pass. Taking control - the hardest step so far. 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. But I would dread the pain of waking up to the shredding everyday."
She continued, "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 used to and learn to love and embrace but, I’m now focusing 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 too 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."
The 33-year-old said that shaving her head was a "hurdle" that she couldn’t even bring herself to think or speak about but that it has made her feel "empowered and positive" as she passes the half-way mark in her chemotherapy treatment.
"I’ve done it and I’ve also crossed the half way chemo line! I'm feeling empowered and positive!
"To everyone on their own journey, whatever that maybe, I’m sending love, power, strength and courage. I found my courage for this step and I’m proud."
Dowden was the first ever professional dancer from Wales to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.
In June, she shared publicly that she had undergone a mastectomy.
In August, she revealed a setback in her recovery, as she suffered life-threatening sepsis.
In the launch episode of the new series of Strictly, which aired last weekend, hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly called her the show's 'Welsh Dragon' as they dedicated the judges and professional dancers' routine to her.
