What helps when treatment ends but the feelings don’t?
Shayla Martin is a breast cancer survivor, Chief Wellness Officer, certified meditation practitioner, and co-founder of a startup. She brings both lived experience and professional insight into what healing looks like beyond the medical treatments.
In this episode, Shayla shares the moment that changed everything—a strange “beach fly” bite that led her to discover a lump. From diagnosis in New York through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, she leaned on humor and community to get through the hardest days. Yet she reveals that the biggest challenge came after treatment, when the full weight of emotions landed, and she no longer had the structure of appointments and check-ins.
Shayla opens up about grief, especially around not having a mother to call after difficult scans, and how therapy became a path for addressing what she calls the “mother wound.” She explains why denial and fear are often the first hurdles, and why processing feelings honestly is a sign of strength.
You’ll hear practical ways to hold space for fear, invite trusted people into treatment days, and use tools like sound baths, meditation, and counseling. Shayla shares that post-treatment is often when emotions truly surface. And allowing yourself to feel them, without judgment, is where real strength begins. Her message: you’re allowed to be scared, you’re not alone, and support is ready when you ask. Keep going. Hope grows where feelings are welcomed.
Highlights:
00:00 – Welcome and Guest Introduction
Meet Shayla Martin, breast cancer survivor and wellness leader.
02:05 – From Corporate to Healing Work
Shayla shares her career shift into wellness and sound healing.
04:10 – The “Beach Fly Bite” That Led to Diagnosis
A strange bump at the beach sparks her cancer journey.
07:20 – The Oncologist Who Saved My Life
A chance public speaking class nudges Shayla to get checked.
09:21 – Facing Fear at Weill Cornell
The day denial lifted and reality of cancer hit.
13:24 – The Call I Couldn’t Make
Realizing she didn’t have a mother to call after diagnosis.
17:17 – The Tornado of Treatment
Why life feels like survival mode during chemo and radiation.
23:00 – Naming the Tumor and Throwing a Party
How humor and community helped her face surgery and chemo.
27:10 – Creating a Chemo Lounge
Why she invited friends, music, and joy into treatment days.
39:34 – The Greatest Gift of Cancer
Living at 100% capacity of feeling and choosing hope.
Mentioned Resources:
CanCare- www.cancare.org
Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook
About the Guest:
Shayla Martin faced breast cancer at 39 years old head-on and discovered healing goes far beyond the physical. A former collegiate runner, she’s now a Chief Wellness Officer and Certified Meditation Practitioner, creating spaces for others to reconnect with themselves through coaching and sound meditation. Based in New York City, Shayla speaks openly about life after cancer, reminding us that joy and intention can exist even in the face of the unknown.
Love the podcast? You’ll be moved by the book. The Hope in the Face of Cancer book shares inspiring, real stories from survivors, caregivers, and healthcare heroes. Raw, uplifting, and full of heart—for anyone seeking hope and connection. Get your copy: cancare.org/hopebook.
About Our Host:
Darcie Champagne Wells is the President and CEO of CanCare, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to providing support to the cancer community by pairing cancer patients with survivors. Since joining in November 2020 as the third President & CEO, Darcie has driven significant growth, increasing one-to-one support matches by 45% and healthcare referrals by 66%. In 2022, she initiated the Impact Acceleration Initiative to further expand support for cancer patients and caregivers. Her leadership has earned her recognition as a “Most Admired CEO” and “Woman Who Means Business” by the Houston Business Journal, and national “Fundraiser of the Year” by RAISE. Darcie holds a BS in Business Administration from Louisiana State University and an MBA from the University of Houston.
https://www.cancare.org/
https://www.facebook.com/CanCareInc
https://www.instagram.com/cancare_inc
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