27 - Sam Clohessy: Breast Cancer, Fitness, and the Power of the Plant.

Today’s episode is raw, real, and deeply human. Kyla sits down with Sam Clohessy, a personal trainer from Western Australia, who shares her story of strength, survival, and self-discovery after being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 34 years old.

From her early days working on remote mine sites to building a fitness business and navigating the breakdown of her marriage, Sam opens up about how years of stress took a toll on her body and how she found resilience, healing, and hope through movement, mindset, and natural medicine.

Sam takes us through the moment she found a lump in the shower, her experience with chemotherapy and the “Red Devil,” and the turning point that led her to explore cannabis as part of her recovery journey. Together, Kyla and Sam unpack what it really takes to heal - body, mind, and spirit - and why curiosity, community, and self-care can make all the difference.

You’ll Learn:

• How chronic stress and emotional trauma can impact physical health
• What life on the mine sites taught Sam about fitness and discipline
• The reality of a young woman navigating breast cancer and single motherhood
• What to expect from chemotherapy and radiation (and the infamous Red Devil)
• How cannabis entered Sam’s healing journey  and why it’s still a taboo topic in oncology
• The lifestyle practices that help her stay healthy today: movement, nutrition, grounding, and mindset

Highlights:

• “Cancer isn’t who you are - it’s a chapter in your life. Don’t let it consume you.”
• “Fitness was my anchor. It filled my cup and kept me sane.”
• “I asked my GP for a prescription for cannabis and she said, ‘You’d have to be terminal.’ Two years later, she started prescribing it.”
• “The more positive and hopeful you are, the more your body can heal.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Research on CBD, THCA, and CBDA in breast cancer cell studies (referenced by Kyla in-episode) Cannabidiol as a Novel Inhibitor of Id-1 Gene Expression in Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells - McAllister et al
• Cannabidiol Induces Programmed Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells by Coordinating the Crosstalk between Apoptosis and Autophagy - Shrivastava et al
• Kyla’s Cancer Support Document — to request a copy DM kyla on IG  @cannacuriousau

Connect:

Follow Sam Clohessy on Instagram @infinityboundlessfitness