An influencer who was diagnosed with incurable colon cancer spoke out about the first symptoms she experienced before her death at the age of 21.
Dominique McShain-Suson, originally from Dunedin, New Zealand, tragically passed away earlier this year.
The young content creator inspired many by opening up about her cancer journey on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
Throughout her treatment, she provided insight into the emotional and physical challenges of battling her illness, while also celebrating life’s precious moments, including her wedding to Sean Suson and their honeymoon in Thailand.
Dominique McShain, 21, was diagnosed with incurable cancer last year. Credit: givealittle
A Final Instagram Post Filled with Gratitude
In her final Instagram post, made on April 7, McShain-Suson expressed gratitude for the love and support she received from her family, friends, and husband.
“My life may be short, but I genuinely think I’ve squeezed every bit out of it,” she wrote. “I won the lottery with a family that loves me unconditionally, friends who would 10,000% donate a liver to me or do anything they could, and the sweetest husband, Sean, who’s been my rock through everything.”
McShain-Suson’s last TikTok, posted on April 11, came just days before her death. In the video, she described her health as deteriorating, mentioning she had gained weight due to swelling and that she felt “very yellow” and “veiny.”
“Sorry for lack of update, I’m alive but very yellow and veiny and swollen on my stomach which has caused me to gain 7kg,” she added.
Diagnosed with Incurable Colon Cancer at 21
McShain-Suson's diagnosis came after a series of troubling symptoms emerged early in 2024, just weeks after returning from a holiday in Asia.
She began experiencing extreme fatigue, blood in her stools, alternating constipation and diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a loss of appetite, NZHerald reported.
When she noticed her liver had enlarged, she sought medical help. Blood tests initially pointed to an infection, but further tests revealed liver deterioration, prompting an emergency ultrasound.
Scans revealed large tumors in her liver, and a biopsy confirmed the devastating diagnosis: incurable colon cancer.
“Being told you have cancer was different because I was almost like, ‘Okay, I’ll beat it.’ But once I got the incurable diagnosis, that was devastating,” McShain-Suson said. “Everyone always seems to be guaranteed a future, and processing that you might not get that is really hard.”
Martin also passed away from colon cancer. credit: tannerandsh / Instagram
Raising Awareness for Early Detection
Through her final months, McShain-Suson became an advocate for awareness, particularly for younger adults. She urged others to be aware of the early signs of colon cancer and emphasized that “nothing is guaranteed in your future".
Her message echoes the similar calls for awareness made by other influencers like Tanner Martin, who also tragically passed away from colon cancer.
Martin, who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at the age of 25, warned his followers about the dangers of neglecting symptoms such as blood in the stool and persistent gastrointestinal discomfort.