Woman diagnosed with increasingly common cancer aged 20 shares sobering reality of symptoms and her condition
A woman who was diagnosed with incurable cancer at the age of 20 has shared the sobering reality of her symptoms and condition.
New Zealand-based content creator Dominique McShain created her platform after learning that she had incurable colorectal cancer which had metastasised to her liver with the goal of raising awareness about the condition amongst younger people.
According to Cancer Research UK, colorectal cancer (also referred to as bowel cancer) is where tumours begin to grow in either the large bowel (colon) and back passage (rectum).
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Around 44,100 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year with survival rates depending on how early a person is diagnosed.
There are particular concerns about the rise in cases amongst younger people, with recent research suggesting that early-onset bowel cancer rates are rising globally. Speaking about the findings in a statement, lead author Hyuna Sung said (via The Guardian): "The increase in early-onset colorectal cancer is a global phenomenon.
"Previous studies have shown this rise in predominately high-income western countries, but now it is documented in various economies and regions worldwide."
In one of her posts titled 'Do I look sick?', Dominique revealed what it was like to live with cancer on a day-to-day basis as well as highlighting the fact that a person with an incurable or terminal illness may not always look how we'd imagine a 'sick' person to be.
Sharing two photos of herself from August 2023 and February 2024, the 21-year-old asked if she looked 'unwell' in the photos before revealing that she'd had cancer at the time without realising.
"Here is me just a few days after being told I had incurable cancer," she wrote on the next post, adding: "Four tumours in my liver, one in my colon and spreading to my lymph nodes already. I still look pretty 'normal' though."
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She then went on to share images from the following months showing her beginning chemotherapy, losing her hair and beginning to try out wearing wigs.
"What's the point of this post," Dominique added in final slide, before explaining that she wanted to highlight to young people that you can look 'healthy' while still having a serious illness.
"If you suspect anything, go get checked!" she wrote.
She then went on to list some of the more common symptoms which occur with the cancer, which include fevers, unexplained pain, weight-loss and abnormal lumps.
Guidance from the NHS also adds that specific symptoms for colorectal cancer include changes to your bowel habits, bloating, a lump in your stomach, fatigue and abdominal pain.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Brenna Cooper