Stage 4 cancer patient warns overlooked minor sign can mask fatal disease

When forty-seven-year-old Susan Schmidt from Brisbane began feeling unusually tired and constipated, she never imagined that these mild and seemingly ordinary symptoms were the early signs of stage four bowel cancer. Diagnosed in 2023, her world changed completely. Yet through her struggle, she has found a new purpose: to raise awareness about early detection and to break the silence that too often surrounds bowel health.

Susan remembers her first symptoms as both “strange” and “subtle.” The fatigue, she says, was relentless. “I would drive my daughter to rowing practice early in the morning and then need to nap in the car on the way home,” she recalled. “That was not normal. It was a warning sign, but I brushed it off because I thought I was just tired from work and parenting.”

A few months later, while traveling in France, she noticed something new. She became constipated for the first time in her life. Assuming it was the rich food or the change in routine, she paid little attention. But once she returned home, her discomfort intensified. “I ended up on the bathroom floor in absolute agony,” she said. “I was vomiting, had diarrhoea, and the pain was worse than childbirth. I knew something was seriously wrong.”

Initial blood tests and scans revealed nothing alarming, and doctors assured her that cancer was unlikely. However, Susan’s instincts told her otherwise. When her pain did not subside, she pushed for more tests. A colonoscopy finally provided the answer she had feared. “When I woke up, I could tell from the doctor’s face that something was wrong,” she said quietly. “He told me they had found a tumor.”

Further scans revealed that the cancer had already spread to her uterus, pelvic lymph nodes, and right lung. The diagnosis was devastating, but Susan refused to give up. Instead of surrendering to despair, she chose to fight with determination and grace. “I allow myself moments to cry,” she said, “but then I pick myself up and remind myself that life is still worth living. I have so much to be grateful for.”

Susan now uses her voice and experience to encourage others to listen to their bodies and to trust their intuition. “Even if your blood work looks normal or your doctor blames it on stress or diet, keep pushing for answers if something feels off,” she urged. “You know your body better than anyone. If I had ignored the signs any longer, I might not be here today.”

Transforming her pain into purpose, Susan founded The Floozie Foundation, a community initiative dedicated to supporting adult cancer patients and their families across Australia. Through her advocacy work, she promotes early screening, emotional support, and honest conversations about bowel health. Her openness has inspired thousands of people to book screenings and to talk more freely about symptoms that are often considered too uncomfortable to mention.

Susan’s journey is not only about surviving cancer but also about living with courage, compassion, and hope. Her story is a powerful reminder that early detection saves lives and that silence can be deadly.

She continues to share her experiences online, using social media to spread awareness and to remind others that no symptom is too small to investigate. Her message is simple but profound. Listen to your body. Ask questions. Seek help early.

Her strength reminds us that even in the darkest moments, purpose can grow from pain. And through her voice, countless others may find the courage to speak up, get tested, and take control of their health.