About Marie Miao
If you’re still not feeling like yourself after cancer treatment, it’s time for the support of a cancer coach who gets it.
Like, really gets it—and won’t assume you’re fine just because you “look so healthy!,” won’t put the burden back on you to know what would actually help, and will guide you through proven steps for nervous system healing after cancer with zero judgment.
Hi, I’m Marie Miao — and before we go any further, I’d like you to know:
You don’t have to pretend here.
As a coach for cancer survivors, some of the first things I often hear from my clients are:
“Everyone expects me to be ‘okay’ now that the worst of it is over, so I just act like I am.”
“It feels fake to smile, but I don’t feel like I can share how I’m really doing.”
“I ‘should’ be grateful, but I’m exhausted and no one gets it.”
If that sounds a little too familiar, you’re in the right place—and however you’re feeling about cancer treatment and life are more than welcome here.
When I say I get it, I mean it.
I really do get the experience of medical treatment and trauma (unlike the well-intentioned people who say they get it because they saw My Sister’s Keeper).
I’ve walked through my own traumatic medical experience, and know exactly what it’s like to struggle to be “grateful,” because the treatment saving your life also feels like it’s stealing your life.
It’s because of both that experience and my years as a social worker in a cancer center that I can confidently say “I get it!” — and that I can confidently tell you:
You really don’t always have to feel like this.
After dedicating my social work career to oncology, I noticed a pattern when it came to treatment and survivorship:
My clients could be eating the healthiest meals, using all “non-toxic” products, and appearing to thrive after completing treatment—but they never felt “well,” because they were holding onto years of anger, resentment, and suppressed emotions.
Cancer recovery is personal—so it’s only fair that I get a little personal too, right?
After experiencing my own medical trauma and nervous system healing, I felt pulled to explore what it would be like to move from my lifelong home of Southern California to explore my ancestral roots in Tokyo, Japan.
My family, including my two young children, and I have lived here since 2025 – and when I’m not supporting clients virtually or doing time zone math for calls, you can find me soaking up local festivals, enchanted-feeling forests, and the absolute best food of my entire life.
P.S. I often post snippets of life in Japan on Instagram—follow along for updates!
People assume a LOT when it comes to cancer—and you know what happens when you make assumptions…
Here are (just some of) the things I’m ready to set straight:
❌ If you look fine, you must be fine.
Under threat, the nervous system doesn’t respond in a straight line—it divides & conquers. Part of you can still function (and manage appointments, logistics, and look composted), and this is the part that looks fine from the outside—I’m here to help you heal the “survival” part who’s holding the fear before appointments, shame for not being “over it,” and exhaustion.
❌ It’s “just menopause!”
Cancer-induced menopause ISN’T the same as naturally entering menopause on your own. It’s abrupt, unexpected, and often layered with grief.
As your cancer coach, I’ll validate all of your feelings about cancer-induced menopause—because it’s about your identity changing, not just your body.
❌ Survivors should be strong, 24/7.
The strength was in survival mode—and it’s okay for that strength to feel like it’s fading now that appointments are slowing down. Rest is a key part of recovery helping your nervous system recalibrate after cancer.
❌ Now you can make up for lost time!
It can feel counterintuitive, but pushing through recovery and planning endless experiences is more likely to lead to a crash than true healing. I often tell clients that it’s not just okay, it’s encouraged to focus on healing — so that when you do feel ready to have new experiences, you can actually enjoy and have energy for them.
Free! Recovery Roadmap
It’s time to reclaim your joy after cancer treatment.
Download my free Cancer Recovery Roadmap for your step-by-step plan to enjoying life again and getting past the “what will this scan say?” and “what do I even do next?” anxiety.
You deserve the space and support you need to actually be okay, not just perform it.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for mourning the changes in your body or your “old life” before cancer, you’re not ungrateful—you’re experiencing the change of something meaningful. I’m here to help you guide your nervous system through catching up to that change, so you can allow your body to speak and release what no longer belongs.