Influencer Shay Martin is spreading awareness about colorectal cancer after the death of her husband, Tanner Martin.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Shay opened up about why she decided to urge her mom to undergo a screening months after Tanner announced his own death at age 30 following a five-year battle with stage 4 colon cancer.
“My mom watched me take care of my dying husband for five years, so she has always been super aware of screening and its importance,” Shay told Us. “I mean, anyone that knows Tanner and I have become very, very aware of colon cancer and the statistics and the importance of screening. I would say, just by knowing us, people have become aware of how important screening is. Specifically my mom, she watched me live the horrible life of cancer.”
In a video released via Instagram on Thursday, April 23, Shay encouraged her mom, who had been putting off her colon cancer screening, to get tested via the Shield blood test, which is the first and only FDA-approved blood test for primary screening.
Ultimately, Shay told Us that her mom received the news that she’s “clear for colorectal cancer.” Shay, for her part, has also taken steps for her own preventative health — including receiving a colonoscopy — while raising her and Tanner’s daughter, whom they welcomed in 2025.
“Since becoming a mom, I’ve only been a mom for — it’ll be a year in a couple weeks — and you’re so focused on your kids. I’m so focused on my daughter, and anytime she is sick, and then when I’m sick, I’m like, ‘I still gotta be a mom.’ I personally want to be aware of my own health,” Shay said. “I want my daughter to grow up seeing me take care of myself, so she has that example, so she will take care of herself.”
As for Shay’s daughter, the influencer shared that she will receive screenings at a young age. (Adults older than 45 years old and at average risk of cancer are eligible to receive the Shield blood test for colorectal cancer.)
“My daughter’s gonna have to start … I mean, her dad died from colon cancer, and she has to start getting screened at 15 years old, which is really young. The doctors will have her do a colonoscopy, because Tanner died from cancer,” Shay explained. “I just want her to be aware and also to just take care of herself and love herself. I want women to love themselves enough to take care of themselves.”
Through it all, Shay shared that she thinks Tanner “would be really proud” of her for continuing his legacy this way.
“Tanner was just a huge proponent in colon cancer awareness, Before he was diagnosed, he joked — this is so funny, and I don’t know if karma is the right word — but Tanner used to say, like, ‘Oh man, it would be so embarrassing to die from butt cancer,’” Shay said with a laugh. “And then he got diagnosed with it, and then he became a big advocate of knowing the symptoms and, ‘Get your butt checked.’ We would always say that.”
