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Dominique McShain, a social media influencer who was diagnosed with colon cancer, has died at the age of 21. PEOPLE Magazine has confirmed the news of her passing, which came just over a year after her diagnosis.
Based in New Zealand, Dominique McShain gained a following on TikTok for openly sharing her colon cancer treatment journey and personal milestones. This included her wedding to partner Sean Suson on July 12, 2024.
She started sharing and documenting her journey after her terminal diagnosis in April 2024 on social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram. Her posts were aimed at spreading awareness about her cancer illness and helping other people avoid the same signs that she missed.
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Dominique McShain was a social media influencer from New Zealand
Dominique McShain was a 21-year-old social media influencer from New Zealand. According to PEOPLE Magazine, she began sharing her life events on the short-video platform TikTok in May 2024, after the unexpected diagnosis of incurable colon cancer ended her college career. In her first video about her cancer diagnosis, she said:
"I was, until two weeks ago, a third-year psychology student, and I wanted to do clinical psychology eventually. And that would take another five years to study.”
The content creator revealed that she was only expected to live between one and five years and that she had to quit working.
"Basically I stopped work and uni because I have such severe cancer, and the treatment is so intense."
McShain also shared that she was documenting videos in the hope that her story could help others. Over the past year, the late influencer gave followers a glimpse into her life, reaching more than 200,000 followers across major social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram.
"I wanted to make a difference somehow and leave something behind and hopefully help people… I know that cancer is getting a lot more common in the colon for younger people, so I really wanted to eventually share my symptoms and raise awareness," she added.
The late creator also posted moments from her personal life online, including getting married in July last year and her honeymoon trip to Thailand.
Dominique McShain’s final post
On April 6, 2025, Dominique McShain took to Instagram to share a heartbreaking life update. The influencer informed her followers that she had been given only a few days to a few weeks to live, as her cancer was progressing quickly.
"My life may be short, but I genuinely think I've squeezed every bit out of it. I won the lottery with a family that loves me unconditionally, friends who would 10000% donate a liver to me or do anything they could (and probably argue over who gets to do it)."
Confirming that it would be her final post, Dominique McShain added:
"Recently, I've been picturing Heaven often — a place where l'll finally be free from the pain that's been with me for so long. I imagine myself without the constant suffering, no longer needing medication just to survive the day. I'll be able to run, to breathe, to feel whole."
The late social media influencer said her goodbyes and thanked her family, friends, and followers, concluding the post with:
"Though it will hurt to leave you all behind, please know that I will finally be out of pain, and I will be at peace.”
Fans and well-wishers have expressed their condolences on her final Instagram post.
