Bikini competitor's photo shows just how much cancer changes your body

Hannah Kramer

Cheyann Shaw is used to people looking at her body. The 23-year old fitness model and bikini competitor blogs about her daily life working out, weight lifting and competing. She's also recently married!

But today, her Instagram is filled with less photos of her in workout gear, and more photos of her in a hospital bed. Cheyann was recently diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, which she's undergoing treatment for in Seattle.

She told People:

"When I was first diagnosed, I was scared, but it went away quickly. I knew that I had no choice but to fight. I wasn't going to let cancer win. I also knew that my husband and family need me and there is no way I am leaving them. So that is when I put my boxing gloves on and got in the ring to knock cancer out."

Aside from chemotherapy, she's had her spleen, part of her colon, appendix and uterus removed. She's been documenting her body's transformation on her Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

This is hard for me to post... Left- Before we knew I had cancer. I was a solid 130lbs and 15% body fat. Also had a nice little booty growing back there. - - Right- Taken yesterday. Stage 4 Low Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. After almost 14 days in the hospital, a poop bag, and a major surgery; I stand at 105lbs. That's way to small for me. I'm 5"5. I lost everything. Cancer has taken so much from me. The body I worked so hard for 2 years to get, the ability to have and carry my own child, my hair, and so much more, but one thing for sure is that cancer has not taken my fight and faith. - - I will never stop fighting. I will never lose my faith. I will never let cancer win. Today has been a rough day for me mentally, but that's okay. I know tomorrow will be much better and I'm thankful to be alive and to see another day. I know GOD is up there working and I know he will give me the strength to fight, the light to see in the darkness, and will lay his healing hands on me. - - This is the toughest battle I have and will ever face, but I know I can do it. The hardest part of all this is my body change. I have a hard time looking at myself in the mirror but I'm learning to love myself again and I know this is only temporary. Once I get the clear light to workout, I'll be in the gym banging those weights💪🏻💪🏻 - - #fuckcancer #ovariancancer #seattleseahawks #bestself #selflove #npc #npcbikini #ifbb #npccompetitor #bikini #bikinicompetitor #bikinifitness #bikiniathlete #fitlife #fitspo #fitlife #follow #inspiration #happiness #womensfitness #womenshealth #motivation #squat #squatspo #country #countrymusic #countrygirl #smile #cheystrong

A post shared by Cheyann Shaw🦋 (@cheymarie_fit) on Nov 22, 2016 at 6:41pm PST

"It was tough to see all my muscle and hard work disappear. It is still tough for me to see my old pictures when I was fit and had a ton of muscle—it is a struggle for me," she said in the interview to People.

But Cheyann is committed to the fight and so are her followers.

"I look different and it's new to me, but it's only temporary, just like this battle. This fight is all mental and I knew if I left how my body looks bring me down, then cancer has won."

Scroll through to see more of Cheyann's journey:

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