Real stories, healing wisdom & warrior voices
Shay’s Warriors Life After Cancer Blog
Practical wellness advice, honest survivor journeys, and emotional support resources for cancer warriors, thrivers, and loved ones. You don't have to walk this path alone.
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Beyond Pinktober: The Unspoken Reality of Survivorship
Breast Cancer Awareness Month can bring awareness, community, and hope, but it can also bring difficult emotions for cancer survivors, caregivers, loved ones, and people currently living with cancer. In this personal reflection, Shay shares what survivorship really feels like beyond October, from survivor’s guilt and grief to fear of recurrence, gratitude, changed relationships, and the ongoing emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis.
What reaching one year without your cancer soulmate teaches you about grief
Shay Moraga reflects on the 365-day anniversary of losing her best friend Aileen to cancer. She discusses navigating the 1-year milestone, facing mirror reminders of post-cancer scars, and holding on to faith.
How Eileen Gianguzi embraced art and living with cancer in full color
Shay Moraga honors Eileen Gianguzi, a 2022 retreat participant, ambassador, and artist who passed away after living courageously with cancer. She reflects on Eileen's decision to embrace her art, remove her wig in 111-degree desert heat, and support fellow survivors.
What keeps a loved one's legacy alive after cancer loss? “Dear Aileen”
Shay Moraga shares a personal letter to her late friend Aileen as event planning season arrives. She describes the quiet grief of organizing non-profit milestones without her co-leader while committing to keep their shared vision alive.
How do you grieve the loss of a soul sister to cancer? “Dear Aileen. Love Shay.”
Shay Moraga writes a tribute letter to her close friend and fellow warrior Aileen at the end of 2024. She reflects on their instant connection, shared fears during treatment, and her commitment to carrying Aileen's legacy forward.
How red light therapy helps cancer patients manage treatment side effects
By Dr. Annissa M. Ceja, ND | Guest Contributor
Dr. Annissa M. Ceja, ND, explains the clinical applications of red light therapy (photobiomodulation) in integrative oncology. She outlines how low-level light therapy alleviates treatment side effects including neuropathy, oral mucositis, radiation dermatitis, and post-chemo hair loss.
How I managed chemotherapy, an ileostomy, and LARS recovery: Part 2
By Sally C. | Guest Contributor
In Part 2 of her story, Sally C. details enduring infusion chemotherapy, undergoing rectal resection surgery, managing a temporary ileostomy, dealing with Lower Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) and a blood clot, and finding healing through Shay's Warriors.
How a routine colonoscopy led to my stage 2 rectal cancer diagnosis: Part 1
By Sally C. | Guest Contributor
In Part 1 of her story, Sally C. details how a routine colonoscopy revealed a rectal tumor despite having no overt symptoms. She describes managing a sudden emergency gallbladder complication before beginning 28 days of radiation and chemotherapy.
What should you say to a friend going through cancer treatment?
Shay Moraga offers supportive phrases to send friends navigating cancer treatment or post-cancer recovery. She highlights low-pressure messages that make loved ones feel seen without adding communication fatigue.
How to support breast cancer awareness month without falling for pinkwashing
Shay Moraga discusses the history of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month ("Pinktober"). She provides practical questions donors should ask to ensure their contributions directly support cancer patients, research, and local survivor programs rather than corporate marketing.
How I navigated stage 4 colon cancer and a subsequent breast cancer diagnosis
By Bobbye | Guest Contributor
Bobbye, a 65-year-old athlete and scientist, shares how persistent stomach pains led to a Stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis during the pandemic. After undergoing chemotherapy, surgery, and achieving No Evidence of Disease (NED), she found renewed purpose through Shay's Warriors, helping her face a subsequent breast cancer diagnosis with resilience.
What reaching 2,259 days cancer-free teaches you about community
Shay Moraga celebrates 2,259 days with No Evidence of Disease (NED). She addresses the unspoken emotional struggles of post-treatment life and explains how building a community of over 5,500 survivors and hosting multi-day retreats helps transform fear into shared strength.
Why cancer survivors should stop making new year's resolutions and start living
Shay Moraga reflects on why cancer survivors often struggle with traditional New Year's resolutions. She highlights the profound lessons cancer teaches about time, inner strength, overcoming fear, and choosing to live fully without excuses.
How to build resilience after a breast cancer diagnosis
By Katie Pierce | Guest Contributor
Katie offers practical advice for navigating the overwhelming shock of a breast cancer diagnosis. She emphasizes emotional processing, finding peer support, avoiding information overload, delegating tasks to loved ones, and maintaining gentle self-care routines.
We are HOPE: How community support helps cancer survivors reset and heal
Shay Moraga reflects on five years of building the grassroots non-profit Shay's Warriors and launching the inaugural I AM HOPE Survivors Reset Retreat in Coachella Valley. She celebrates bringing 25 female survivors together for a restorative weekend supported by community grants, donations, and volunteer support.
How did I survive stage 3b colorectal cancer and secondary metastases?
By Joanna | Guest Contributor
Joanna details her diagnosis of Stage 3b rectal cancer at age 46 after intermittent bleeding was initially dismissed as postpartum hemorrhoids. She describes facing a lung metastasis 18 months later, achieving a 6-year remission through integrative medicine (combining surgery, chemo, targeted therapy, and naturopathic support), and advocating for early colonoscopy screening.
What does reaching 5 years cancer-free teach you about living?
After surviving Stage 3 Triple-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer diagnosed before age 40, Shay Moraga reflects on reaching her 5-year cancer-free anniversary. She shares how cooking and hospitality—learned from her father—became a way to process survivorship, build community, and choose faith over the fear of recurrence.