Australian Mother Diagnosed with Stage 4 Bowel Cancer After Ignoring Subtle Symptoms: "I Brushed It Off"
Susan Schmidt, a mother of two and physiotherapist from Australia, is opening up about her heartbreaking stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis in hopes of encouraging others to recognize warning signs before it's too late.
Susan was just 45 when she was diagnosed in September 2023. The news came as a complete shock—especially since the early symptoms were easy to dismiss.
“The diagnosis is incurable,” she told The Daily Mail. “The goal now is to stay well for as long as I can. I’ll probably resume chemotherapy after my next overseas trip.”
While bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers, Susan believes a lack of open discussion around bowel health leads many to miss early warning signs.
“I didn’t talk about my bowel habits—who does?” she said. “That’s part of the problem. People don’t raise the alarm early enough.”
From Fatigue to Diagnosis: The Symptoms She Overlooked
Looking back, Susan remembers feeling extreme fatigue about four months before her diagnosis.
“I’d drive my daughter 15 minutes to rowing, then have to pull over and nap for 40 minutes on the way home,” she recalled. “That’s not normal. That was a warning sign, but I brushed it off.”
During a trip to France for a friend’s wedding, she noticed another change: constipation—something she had never experienced before.
“I blamed it on the rich food, the cheese, the indulgence. I didn’t think much of it.”
But the symptoms escalated quickly once she returned to Brisbane. One night, she collapsed in her bathroom with intense stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
“It was unbearable. Worse than childbirth. I was crawling into the shower, trying to relieve the pain with heat. It was a nine out of ten on the pain scale,” she said.
Initially, she suspected salmonella, thinking she may have caught it from a horse with the infection. At the hospital, doctors did not test for cancer and reassured her everything was fine.
Not long after, Susan was officially diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer—a moment that turned her life upside down.
“Push for Answers If Something Feels Off”
Now living with an incurable diagnosis, Susan wants others to trust their instincts.
“Even if your blood work is normal, even if they say it’s stress, diet, or hormones—listen to your body. Push for answers if something feels off.”
To help others navigate the emotional and physical toll of cancer, Susan founded The Floozie Foundation, which aims to support patients and their families across adult cancer wards in Australia.
Her story is a powerful reminder that even subtle symptoms like fatigue or constipation shouldn't be ignored.
Please share Susan’s message to raise awareness and encourage others to seek help early.
— Bored Daddy
Love and Peace
