She was 20 years old, with a future full of plans, and her head buried in her psychology studies. Nothing suggested that a few seemingly benign signs would turn her life upside down. Unusual fatigue, a little blood in her stool… Who would really worry about it at that age? And yet. This is the story of Dominique McShain, a young woman whose journey reminds us how essential it is to listen to your body, even when everything seems fine.
Symptoms that are easy to ignore… but have serious consequences
As she begins her final year of university in New Zealand , Dominique experiences an exhaustion that is more than just temporary fatigue. Despite sleeping through the night, she finds herself forced to sleep for several hours during the day. At the same time, her bowel movements become irregular, alternating between constipation and diarrhea, often accompanied by blood.
Like many others, Dominique hesitated to seek medical help. The fear of not being taken seriously—”too young for that,” she thought—held her back. It was only after several weeks that she decided to undergo medical tests. And then, things accelerated.
The verdict is in: incurable colorectal cancer
Blood tests revealed abnormalities in her liver. An ultrasound detected several large nodules . Finally, a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis: Dominique had advanced colorectal cancer. The doctors were adamant: no curative treatment was possible .
It’s a real shock . At just 21, she’s told she has between one and five years to live. Dominique then decides to make a bold choice: she leaves university and embarks on a world tour, determined to live every moment to the fullest.
A mission: to raise awareness among others
Continued on the next page 👇
