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Sam's Story

Primary school teacher Sam Jones first discovered a lump in her breast in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

After an initial appointment with her GP, Sam was quickly diagnosed with primary breast cancer at just 31 years old.

“It came as quite a shock, and the months that came after my diagnosis were tough to say the least.”

Following her cancer treatment, Sam has taken part in three Titty Trail events in as many years to help raise breast cancer awareness and highlight the signs and symptoms people should look out for. She says, “If I can do a Titty Trail just ten days after my last chemo then anyone can do it.”

In total, Sam has completed more than 31 miles of Titty Trails to date – the same age she was when she first received a cancer diagnosis – and raised over £1,200 for Lingen Davies in the process.

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Sam's treatment

After Sam’s breast cancer diagnosis, she underwent surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy treatment to remove the cancer.

“I had a few surgeries, including a lumpectomy and a single mastectomy with reconstruction. My chemotherapy was quite a gruelling regime which included the dreaded red devil. Those who’ve been through chemotherapy know exactly what that is.”

Sam’s cancer was HER2-positive so she was put on Tamoxifen, a hormonal therapy drug, for five years to prevent a recurrence after treatment. As this drug could temporarily affect the likelihood of her holding a successful pregnancy, Sam and her husband decided to take matters into their own hands.

“Me and my husband, Mark, completed two rounds of IVF to maintain our chances of conceiving in the future. I then continued with 18 rounds of Herceptin, a targeted therapy, and carried on taking the Tamoxifen.”

Three years later

In January 2023, three years after her initial diagnosis, Sam found another lump in the same breast.

“Of course, I immediately got it checked but then I had my worst fears confirmed by my doctor. My cancer had come back.

“I was diagnosed with a local recurrence but thankfully the surgeon was able to remove all of the cancer, but as it was HER2-positive I had to have even more chemo,” she added.

In an attempt to remove the cancer once and for all, Sam spent the summer of 2023 undergoing an additional six sessions of chemotherapy with the last one scheduled for 4th October, just ten days before the first ever Lingen Davies Titty Trail – a walking event dedicated to raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and boosting funds to support local people affected by cancer.

Titty Trail

With just over a week to recover after her last round of chemotherapy, Sam gathered a large group of friends and family to walk the first Lingen Davies Titty Trail and officially mark the end of her chemotherapy treatment.

“I treated the Titty Trail as a little bit of a celebration to mark the end of my chemotherapy. I knew that I would have to have a course of radiotherapy treatment and potentially surgery after that, but I’d finished my chemotherapy which was an amazing feeling.”

Since then, Sam has made taking part in the Titty Trail an annual occasion, returning to the event in both 2024 and 2025. She was among the first 10 finishers of Titty Trail 2025, this time running the 11-mile trail with ease.

“I know that Lingen Davies will have likely played a big part in supporting many taking part in the trail, whether that’s helping their family member, friend, neighbour, or someone else close to them through their cancer journey. We’re so lucky to have such a wonderful cancer centre in our local area so we need to do all that we can to support it.

“If I can do a Titty Trail just ten days after my last chemo then anyone can do it,” she added.