The Cornboroughs tell their cancer story to help others

The rugby community was there for Sam Cornborough when she was diagnosed with cancer – now she wants to be there for it. 

Sam, who played alongside younger sister Vickii at Harlequins, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2023.

At the time, she was breastfeeding her six-month-old son, alongside caring for her three-year-old daughter, and Vickii, who lives on the same road as her sister, was just a week away from becoming a mum to twins.

Sam underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat her cancer before scans showed no signs of cancer in October 2024.

Meanwhile, Vickii braved the shave, so her sister did not have to go through the process of losing her hair alone, although cold cap therapy did mean that Sam was able keep most of the hair on her head.

“Vic was not able to physically come to appointments with me or even walk down the road because she has got two young children Sam said.

“But I think it is a testament to how close we are and our relationship that we didn’t physically need to see each other because we always have each other’s support and each other’s back, even in the absence of physically seeing each other.”

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A post shared by Samantha Bond (@samanthacornborough)

Sam went through the gruelling experience of wearing a cold cap during her chemotherapy treatments to preserve her hair as much as possible, as she strived to make things as normal as possible for her three-year-old daughter. 

It was why she initially kept her diagnosis only between family and close friends to manage an unavoidably destabilising experience for her young children.

But as the physical effects of her cancer treatment became increasingly noticeable, she took to social media to share her story and was overwhelmed with support.

Vickii said: “Sam had a massive following of people that tuned into her updates and she had a huge amount of outreach, from people saying I love the fact you are sharing your story, and it is really positive but really real.

“Especially as a young mum and with our rugby community as well.” 

The positive response from the community around her is in part why Sam and Vickii are supporting Premiership Women’s Rugby partnering with leading research and support charity Breast Cancer Now. 

Breast Cancer Now encourage people to regularly check their breasts and get any new or unusual changes checked with a GP, using their vital  TLC: Touch, Look, Check messaging.

Early detection can save lives from breast cancer, and so raising awareness of the importance of breast checking and the signs and symptoms of the disease is an important first step to breast cancer being diagnosed.

Breast Cancer Now’s partnership with the PWR will see wide-ranging activations taking place throughout the rugby season, including at matches to engage people with potentially lifesaving breast health messaging and raise vital funds for the charity’s work.

Sam added: “Breaking down the fear around any concerns, or making sure you check yourself and knowing what to look out for, is so important.

The PWR and Breast Cancer Now are tackling breast cancer together 🧡 🩷

As the competition’s first-ever charity partner, Breast Cancer Now will be making their debut on the 24 October.

We couldn’t be more ready to work with our clubs, players and fans to tackle breast cancer 🏉

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) August 18, 2025

“We want to break down the barriers and the stigma around breast health in general and specifically breast cancer, too.

“Using sport as a tool to broadcast that wider than our local rugby networks, our local communities, is really important, as is being able to do that at a national level and to reach not only our friends and family but also the next generation that is coming through.”

For Vickii, the importance of the partnership comes from the impact it will have on the rugby community. 

She said: “You are talking  millions of people that you can help share this story with and break down the barriers. 

“Check yourself, if in doubt, go and see a GP. It probably will come to nothing, let’s hope it comes to nothing, but worst-case scenario, let’s try and catch it as early as possible.  

“We have that platform to spread the message and spread it in a positive way, which Sam has been incredible at doing throughout her journey.  

“What a great partnership to be able to leverage that fanbase. It is genuinely going to change lives and save lives.

“If we can reach at least one more person, you will have changed someone else’s life.  

“That is the power of this. It is not just a partnership, it is not just a logo, it is changing people’s lives.” 

Sam noticed a lump while breastfeeding her son and then went to the GP and eventually advocated for a referral to get it fully assessed.

As she was receiving her treatment, the stories shared by Breast Cancer Now of people who had been through the same thing proved incredibly helpful. 

It is why she is now keen to continue telling her story, as she returns to work for the first time in three years this week and is even thinking of going back to rugby. 

She said: “You do feel like you have got a second stab at life, and it is a rediscovered opportunity. I am excited for the next chapter. 

“Hearing stories like that when you are going through it all makes you feel less isolated. 

“It gives you hope that you will get there too, and it breaks down the fear factor of life after and how treatment will affect you.  

“So if we can, through the partnership with the PWR, broaden that message, it will help break down those fears. 

“What stops people checking themselves and going to their GPs is they think it is an automatic death sentence. It is not. I am testament to that.”

It’s time to give your breasts some TLC – breastcancernow.org/checking