Susan Schmidt, a 47-year-old mum of two from Brisbane, Australia, never expected that everyday tiredness or minor stomach discomfort could point to something deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But in 2023, her life changed overnight when doctors delivered shocking news: she had stage 4 bowel cancer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Susan, the diagnosis didn\u2019t come after dramatic warning signs. Instead, it followed months of symptoms so mild and gradual that she brushed them aside \u2014 something many adults can relate to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, she is sharing her story publicly to encourage others to pay attention to their bodies, seek medical advice early, and push for answers when something feels wrong. Through her experience, Susan has become a powerful advocate for breaking the silence around bowel health and removing the stigma that often delays diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continue reading in the next page….<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Susan\u2019s journey started with signs that seemed harmless at the time. In an interview with the Daily Mail<\/em>, she explained that the early symptoms didn\u2019t feel serious enough to worry about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, her mindset has shifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy focus now is staying as healthy as possible for as long as I can,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll likely go back on chemotherapy after my next trip overseas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although her condition is considered incurable, Susan is determined to make the most of her time \u2014 prioritizing family, travel, and helping others facing similar battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One major reason bowel cancer is often caught late, Susan says, is simple: people feel uncomfortable talking about digestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI didn\u2019t speak about my bowel habits \u2014 and honestly, who does?\u201d she admitted. \u201cThat\u2019s part of the issue. People don\u2019t raise concerns early enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This silence can be dangerous. Colorectal cancer often begins quietly, with symptoms that can be mistaken for stress, diet changes, hormones, or common digestive problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sooner people recognize these changes and consult a doctor, the better the chances of catching cancer early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Months before she was diagnosed in September 2023, Susan began feeling unusually exhausted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She described moments where she would drive her daughter to rowing practice and then be forced to pull over and sleep for almost an hour on the way back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat isn\u2019t normal,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I ignored it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a physiotherapist, Susan was used to working through tiredness and staying active. She assumed it was stress, burnout, or even early menopause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Around the same time, she noticed digestive changes. While attending a wedding in France, she experienced constipation \u2014 something she had never dealt with before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She blamed the travel lifestyle and rich food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought it was just too much cheese and indulgent eating,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But after returning home, the symptoms intensified dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She recalled collapsing in extreme pain, suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea, and unbearable cramping for hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt lasted eight hours,\u201d she explained. \u201cI thought it was food poisoning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She described it as worse than childbirth, even crawling into the shower in an attempt to relieve the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, medical tests didn\u2019t point to cancer. Bloodwork and stool samples appeared normal, so doctors didn\u2019t immediately suspect anything serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That changed after a colonoscopy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen I woke up, I could tell something was wrong,\u201d Susan said. \u201cThey didn\u2019t offer me food or water. Then the gastroenterologist came in and said he\u2019d found a tumour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further scans brought even more devastating news: the cancer had already spread to her uterus, pelvic lymph nodes, and right lung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her diagnosis was confirmed as advanced metastatic bowel cancer \u2014 stage 4<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this stage, colorectal cancer has moved beyond the colon or rectum and reached other organs, making a cure unlikely. Treatment usually focuses on slowing progression, easing symptoms, and extending life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stage 4 bowel cancer is the most advanced form of colorectal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, around 1 in 5 new cases<\/strong> are diagnosed at this late stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Survival rates are significantly lower. The five-year relative survival rate is estimated at around 14%<\/strong>, although outcomes vary depending on treatment response and individual health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stage 4 treatment commonly includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite her prognosis, Susan continues living actively, traveling when she can, spending time with her children, and supporting others in the cancer community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan now speaks openly to encourage people not to dismiss persistent symptoms, even if they seem minor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf something doesn\u2019t feel right, keep pushing for answers,\u201d she said. \u201cEven if tests look fine. Even if you\u2019re told it\u2019s stress, hormones, or diet \u2014 trust yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes her story even more alarming is that she didn\u2019t experience the classic warning sign many people associate with bowel cancer, such as visible blood in the stool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, her symptoms were subtle: fatigue, constipation, and abdominal discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Medical professionals often stress that ongoing symptoms lasting weeks or months should always be investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common early signs of bowel cancer include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because these symptoms can resemble harmless digestive problems, many people delay seeing a doctor \u2014 sometimes until the disease has already progressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even while undergoing chemotherapy and dealing with an uncertain future, Susan has chosen to turn her experience into something meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She created The Floozie Foundation<\/strong>, an organization aimed at supporting cancer patients and their families in adult hospital wards throughout Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The foundation focuses on providing comfort, emotional support, and resources for patients navigating serious illness. It also helps raise awareness about early detection and the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan continues sharing updates online, not only about her treatment but also about the foundation\u2019s impact. Her goal is to inspire hope and remind others that they are not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Medical studies consistently show that bowel cancer outcomes improve dramatically when caught early. Early-stage cancers are far more treatable and often curable, requiring less aggressive treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, embarrassment, stigma, and vague early symptoms often lead to delayed diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan\u2019s experience highlights how easily warning signs can be missed \u2014 and how important it is to act early if something feels unusual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common screening options include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experts generally recommend starting routine screening at age 45<\/strong>, or earlier for those with family history or other risk factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Living with advanced cancer is not only physically exhausting \u2014 it also takes a major emotional toll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan says mental strength, community support, and open conversations with loved ones are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re not alone,\u201d she says. \u201cYour health is worth it. Speak up. Push for answers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her honesty about fear, frustration, and determination has resonated with thousands, helping normalize conversations about bowel health and encouraging people to take symptoms seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan\u2019s message is larger than her own story. She hopes to change how society talks about bowel habits and digestive health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through her advocacy and foundation, she focuses on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n By speaking openly, she is challenging the stigma that keeps many people silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan Schmidt\u2019s story is a powerful reminder that small symptoms can sometimes signal something serious \u2014 and that early action can make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her experience highlights key lessons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan continues her fight with strength and purpose, turning her personal battle into a message that may help others act sooner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As she puts it: By sharing her journey, Susan is helping ensure that others recognize warning signs earlier \u2014 and possibly prevent a late-stage diagnosis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Susan Schmidt, a 47-year-old mum of two from Brisbane, Australia, never expected that everyday tiredness or minor stomach discomfort could…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10417"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10419,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10417\/revisions\/10419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\nThe Moment Everything Changed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy Bowel Health Is Still a Taboo Topic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Early Signs She Didn\u2019t Take Seriously<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA Diagnosis That Left Her in Shock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat Stage 4 Bowel Cancer Means<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nHer Warning to Others: Don\u2019t Ignore Your Gut Feeling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nTurning Her Struggle Into a Mission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy Early Detection Matters So Much<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nThe Emotional Side of Stage 4 Cancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA Bigger Mission: Changing the Culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nConclusion: A Reminder That Could Save Lives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cI want people to know they\u2019re allowed to speak up. Your health is worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n