In 2023, Susan Schmidt, a 47-year-old mother of two from Australia, received a diagnosis that would dramatically change her life: advanced bowel cancer. Looking back, Susan says the condition developed quietly, with early symptoms that were easy to dismiss and difficult to talk about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now living with stage 4 bowel cancer, Susan has chosen to share her experience publicly in hopes of encouraging open conversations about health and helping others recognize when something may not be right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continue reading on next page\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, affects the large intestine or rectum. When identified early, treatment outcomes are often more favorable. However, the disease can progress without obvious warning signs, leading some people to delay seeking medical advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Susan has spoken openly about how social discomfort around discussing digestive health played a role in her delay. \u201cIt\u2019s not something people usually talk about,\u201d she explained in an interview. \u201cThat silence can make it harder to realize when symptoms need attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the months leading up to her diagnosis, Susan noticed several changes in her health. Persistent fatigue was one of the earliest signs. As a busy professional and parent, she initially attributed her exhaustion to lifestyle factors and hormonal changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, she experienced constipation and abdominal discomfort\u2014symptoms she assumed were temporary and related to diet or travel. At the time, there were no clear indicators such as visible blood, which often prompts more immediate concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, Susan experienced severe abdominal pain that led her to seek urgent medical care. While initial tests did not immediately reveal the cause, further investigation was recommended after her symptoms persisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A colonoscopy later revealed a tumor, and follow-up imaging showed that the cancer had spread beyond the bowel. Susan was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, meaning the disease had advanced to other areas of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treatment at this stage typically focuses on managing symptoms and slowing progression. Susan continues to receive care under medical supervision, while prioritizing time with her family and maintaining quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since her diagnosis, Susan has become an advocate for greater awareness around bowel health. She emphasizes the importance of paying attention to ongoing or unusual symptoms and feeling comfortable discussing them with healthcare professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her message is not one of fear, but of attentiveness. She encourages people to trust their instincts and follow up when symptoms persist, even if initial tests appear normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Susan has also launched The Floozie Foundation<\/strong>, an organization that provides practical support to adult cancer patients and their families in Australia. The foundation focuses on comfort, resources, and emotional support for people navigating treatment and hospital stays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through this work, Susan hopes to make the experience of cancer care less isolating for others facing similar challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a mother, Susan says her children remain a central source of motivation. Balancing treatment with everyday life is challenging, but she continues to approach each day with determination and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her story highlights the importance of family support, self-advocacy, and compassion in managing serious illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan\u2019s experience serves as a reminder that ongoing health changes deserve attention and open discussion. While many symptoms can have harmless explanations, persistent issues are worth revisiting with medical professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By sharing her journey, Susan hopes to encourage conversations that may help others seek care earlier and feel less alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susan continues to focus on treatment, advocacy, and supporting others through her foundation. Her story has resonated with many people, helping to reduce stigma around bowel health and reinforcing the value of awareness and communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While every health journey is different, Susan\u2019s experience underscores how listening to one\u2019s body and seeking timely medical advice can make a meaningful difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 2023, Susan Schmidt, a 47-year-old mother of two from Australia, received a diagnosis that would dramatically change her life:…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4937","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\/4937","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=4937"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4940,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4937\/revisions\/4940"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A Focus on Family and Purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A Broader Message<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n