After being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and then undergoing a double mastectomy on May 16, Samantha Harris has made huge strides.

In her first interview since the eight-hour operation, Samantha sits down with Closer Weekly to discuss her progress and optimistic views for the future.

“I walked three miles the other day,” Samantha shares in her exclusive interview with Closer.

“I’ve been cleared for cardio, and once you green light me, I will go 100 miles an hour. I’m feeling fantastic now,” she reveals. “And [I’ve taken] no pain medication of any kind for five days!”

Samantha first discovered a lump during a self-exam late last year and found out she had cancer after undergoing a lumpectomy.

samantha harris

Samantha with her supportive husband of 9 years, Michael Hess

Doctors discovered the disease had spread beyond its original site in her right breast and said she may need chemotherapy. “It’s tough, because I was told I wouldn’t need it,” Samantha tells Closer.

“When I woke up, I heard the words I didn’t want to hear,” she shares with the mag. “I just broke down in tears.”

But she soon got some good news when tests showed the cancer had reached only one lymph node. “There was such a sweet sigh of relief, knowing it hadn’t gone that far,” she recalls.

While she has a few nervous weeks ahead while she waits to hear if she’s needs chemo, Samantha is trying to stay positive.

“It’s better to be here and be scared than not to be around. It’s a bump in the road,” she admits. “I just want to get it over with and get on with my life.”