Country singer and Getaway host, Sam McClymont, has made her exciting return to television after a year-long hiatus following her cancer diagnosis. She announced she was cancer-free recently, marking her comeback in spectacular fashion: she is filming Getaway in Italy aboard a luxury Scenic cruise. We interviewed her and she shared her cancer journey with us;

In February 2024, at 38 years old, I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, four months after an initial misdiagnosis. One morning, I was playing with my two young boys, who were bouncing all over my bed, when one of them fell on me and I went to grab my breast. That's when I felt the lump and instantly knew I needed to consult my GP. From that moment, it was a series of tests, including ultrasounds, mammograms, biopsies, and MRIs. The initial biopsy was negative. I followed up with a specialist, as the lump was uncomfortable (pain not generally associated with cancer), and I wanted more advice about it. He felt the lump and immediately sent me for follow-up testing, after which I received the news of TNBC. What followed was 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, 15 rounds of radiation, followed by a double mastectomy and reconstruction. During the process of my cancer journey, I had genetic testing. I discovered I was BRCA2, meaning I had a 70% chance of getting breast cancer and will need my ovaries out before 45 as a preventative measure.

You are your best advocate when it comes to your health. You need to speak up and push for answers when there are none. You need to chase results and get multiple opinions and advice. No one is going to do it for you. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better chance you have of beating it. My oncologist told me at my first appointment, 'Just give me one year so that you can have the next 50.' That really helped put everything into perspective during tough times. Knowing you need to get to the other side of treatment is what kept me going and reminding myself that this was just a phase in my life I needed to overcome.

I am someone who finds it difficult to ask for help, but you cannot do this alone. If a family member or friend has been diagnosed, sometimes it's better to do than to ask, but in a respectful way. Dropping things off at their door, such as a book or meals, but understanding they may not want to talk as they are feeling unwell. If they have children, consider taking them on playdates.

Listening rather than offering opinions. Leave medical advice to the doctors. While being positive and uplifting is great, sometimes someone with cancer may want to vent their frustrations rather than having to put a positive spin on everything. Cancer is complicated to navigate, and simply being there for support and a shoulder to lean on is often enough.

You find out who means the most to you and who you can rely on when things get tough. My family were a massive source of support, and I could not have gotten through this without them.  Additionally, my McGrath breast care nurse, Bethel. I don't know how anyone navigates cancer without someone like her. She was always helpful in dealing with new problems that arose weekly, and when she didn't have the answers, she would ensure that she found them for you.

My breast cancer story began when I had just turned 40. A friend encouraged me to book my free mammogram. I wasn’t in a rush—I booked it, cancelled, and then thankfully rebooked soon after. There I was, thinking it was just for a baseline check. I never imagined it would change my life. As it turned out, one of the lumps I’d had checked twice in my 20s had changed. I’ve had no symptoms and no history of breast cancer. Thankfully the cancer was caught early. I chose to have a double mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction. My pathology results showed no spread to my lymph nodes and that it wasn’t an aggressive form of breast cancer. Because of this, my medical team felt that surgery combined with five years of hormone-blocking medicine was the necessary treatment. 

Breast cancer has taught me how precious life really is. It’s shown me the importance of living in the moment, and not putting off the things that matter. It’s taught me to lean on others, to accept help, and to realise that strength doesn’t mean doing everything alone. Most of all, it’s taught me gratitude—for early detection and for my good health right now. If I could give one piece of advice to someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer, it would be to take things one step at a time. It can feel overwhelming at first, but you don’t need to figure everything out all at once. Trust your medical team, lean on your loved ones, and know that you’re not alone in this journey.

The best way to support someone going through breast cancer is to simply show up and let them know they’re not alone. Sometimes it’s practical things—dropping off a meal (my sister organised a meal train which was so helpful), helping with kids, or driving them to appointments. Other times, it’s just sitting with them, listening without judgment. Don’t feel like you need to have the perfect words—your presence, consistency, and kindness mean more than you realise.

The most important relationship I found in my breast cancer journey was with other women who had been through it. No one else truly understands the mix of fear, strength, and vulnerability the same way. Having that connection made me feel less alone and gave me hope when I needed it most. Shout out to my breasties!