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An Instagram star who was just 23 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer and bravely documented the changes to her body online has died.   

Cheyann Shaw, 27, from Seattle, had built of quite an Instagram following by documenting her fitness journey when, in August of 2016, she found out she had late-stage cancer.

She continued to document her battle with the disease, revealing she was cancer free in November 2017, before the disease returned in January 2020.

Her family shared the news on Instagram yesterday, posting: ‘With heavy hearts, we are sad to announce that our beautiful girl Cheyann has been called home to heaven.’ 

Cheyann Shaw , 27, from Seattle, who was just 23 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer and bravely documented the changes to her body online has died

Announcing the news, they posted a photograph of the fitness influencer beaming as she relaxed in a field of flowers. 

Meanwhile they went on to share a message from her mother Darci Lynn, who said: ‘My heart is breaking today, our baby girl lost her long battle with ovarian cancer. 

‘She fought until the bitter end. She is a true warrior and survivor. 

‘She will be truly missed and will forever be in my heart.’ 

In her final post on Instagram, shared shortly before Christmas, Cheyann gave a thumb’s up from her hospital bed and asked for ‘light and prayers’

The caption continued: ‘Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the years. 

‘If there’s one thing Cheyann taught us is that no matter what battles we face, we can always find a reason to smile through them.’

Cheyann, a former NPC Bikini Competitor, was known for her fit gym selfies and workout videos before she was diagnosed with cancer on August 3rd, 2016, at the tender age of 23.

Whereas before she had shown herself getting stronger and frequently hitting the gym, now her Instagram page showed her getting weaker as cancer took its toll, and posted updates from the hospital. 

The fitness influencer was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of just 23 and documented her battle and changing body on Instagram 

WHAT IS OVARIAN CANCER AND WHAT ARE ITS SYMPTOMS?

Ovarian cancer affects more than 7,000 women in the UK each year and there are an estimated 41,000 women living with it.

It is a cancer of the ovaries, which are part of the female reproductive system that contain their eggs. There are two ovaries and both are attached to the womb. Cancer on the ovaries can spread to the nearby bowel and bladder.

It is the fifth most common cancer among women, and is most common in women who have had the menopause but it can affect women of any age. 

About 66 per cent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in the more advanced stages of the disease.

At the time of diagnosis, 60 per cent of ovarian cancers will have already spread to other parts of the body, bringing the five-year survival rate down to 30 per cent from 90 per cent in the earliest stage.

It’s diagnosed so late because its location in the pelvis means the symptoms can be vague and difficult to recognise, particularly early on.

They’re often the same as symptoms of less serious conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).

The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

• Feeling constantly bloated 
• A swollen tummy
• Discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area 
• Feeling full quickly when eating, or loss of appetite 
• Needing to pee more often or more urgently than normal

See your GP if:

You’ve been feeling bloated most days for the last three weeks 

You have other symptoms of ovarian cancer that won’t go away – especially if you’re over 50 or have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer, as you may be at a higher risk 

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She showed herself losing her hair and muscle mass, dropping a total of 33lbs she’d worked so hard to build up. 

Though the odds were against her, the chemo started to work, and in November of 2017 she was told she had no evidence of disease. 

She kept up the chemo for maintenance, but completed that in April 2018.

Tragically, the disease returned in January 2020, with the influencer posting online: ‘This is not the news I wanted to tell y’all…Sadly, there is cancer in 4 of my lymph nodes.

Sick: She went on to document how her body changed, as she lost her hair and most of her muscle mass

The influencer lost a total of 33lbs as she underwent treatment for the cancer, which was stage 4

‘I actually found out on Monday from my online report that was sent to me but today it was confirmed that there is small activity of cancer.’

She added: ‘I’ve had cancer in 3 out of the 4 spots before and I beat it; this time is NO DIFFERENT! I will win and I will beat this beast again.’

Her final post before her death documented a stay in hospital, with the fitness influencer sharing a snap as she gave a thumb’s up while in bed.

Posting days before Christmas, she wrote: ‘It’s been a minute since my last update but things have been going well! 

In November 2017, she revealed she was cancer free, but said the disease had returned in January 2020  

‘I’ve been in and out of the hospital with a liver issue that has been fixed and now I’m on a feeding tube which is totally okay. Your girl needed some help with food lol.

‘I start chemo on Tuesday and should be going home today or tomorrow, just in time for Christmas. 

‘Keep the prayers coming and keeping sending all the light.’  

The fitness influencer’s family said she had been ‘called home to heaven’ as they revealed their ‘hearts were breaking’

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk

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