Cancer survivor says 'breasts do not define you'

A woman who had a double mastectomy is taking on three endurance challenges topless in a bid to promote body positivity and health awareness.

Sam Smith, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, was 19 when she had treatment for blood cancer which left her at high risk for developing breast cancer later in life.

The now 31-year-old said looking down at her flat chest after the surgery in April was "life-changing", after years of battling with health anxiety, paranoia and PTSD.

Next year, Ms Smith will take on the London Marathon, the Swim Serpentine, and the Chase the Sun cycle - totalling a distance of 233.2 miles (375km).

She said she hopes to spread awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and has also urged others to regularly check their chests for any lumps, bumps or noticeable changes.

Doctors diagnosed Ms Smith with a type of blood cancer called Hodgkin's lymphoma after finding a lump on the side of her ribs and neck.

She underwent six months of chemotherapy and three weeks of radiotherapy which was targeted directly at her chest.

According the the NHS, this high-energy radiation can damage DNA in nearby healthy cells and increase the risk of developing a second cancer later in life.

"I've always been scared of recurrence," she told BBC Radio Bristol presenter John Darvell. "It just really affected who I was and my personality. I didn't feel like Sam."

"That's why I took the decision to have the double mastectomy because it was risk reduction surgery," she continued.

"The minute I woke up, my shoulders dropped and I felt like the Sam I'd yearned for all the time."

Ms Smith took the decision not to have breast reconstruction because it would have significantly extended her recovery time, and she just wanted to "get on with life".

"I want to show that people without boobs are still beautiful, confidence comes from within," she said. "That you can own your story, scars and all."

Ms Smith's endurance challenges will be in aid of CoppaFeel, the UK's only youth focused breast cancer awareness charity promoting regular chest checking.

"I want to raise money, yes, but more than that, I want to make a statement," she said. "A bold one, a visible one. One that challenges shame and celebrates survival.

"It's about getting that positivity out there for people that have had this surgery, showing there's nothing to be ashamed of or scared of as a woman.

"Your breasts do not define you."

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