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<\/p>\nSusan Schmidt, a 47-year-old mother of two from Australia, received life-changing news in 2023 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. For Susan, a physiotherapist and mother deeply involved in her children\u2019s daily lives, the diagnosis came as a shock, though she had experienced several warning signs in the months leading up to it. She now hopes that by sharing her story, others can learn from her experience and recognize symptoms before they escalate to a serious, potentially fatal stage.<\/p>\n
Susan described the early signs of her illness as \u201cstrange\u201d and \u201csubtle.\u201d Fatigue, constipation, and occasional bouts of severe pain had become part of her life, yet she initially dismissed them as minor inconveniences or effects of early menopause. \u201cI\u2019d drive my daughter 15 minutes to her rowing lessons and have to stop on the way home for a 40-minute nap,\u201d Susan recalled. \u201cThat\u2019s not normal. That was a warning sign, but I brushed it off, thinking it was just part of getting older.\u201d She also traveled to France for a friend\u2019s wedding, where she experienced constipation for the first time in her life. \u201cI just wasn\u2019t going properly,\u201d she explained. \u201cI blamed it on rich food, too much cheese, too much indulgence. I didn\u2019t think much of it at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Upon returning to Brisbane, her symptoms worsened dramatically. Susan described a harrowing episode in which she collapsed onto her bathroom floor in extreme pain. Vomiting, diarrhea, and intense cramping persisted for eight hours. \u201cIt was worse than childbirth. I was crawling into the shower, trying to relieve the pain with heat. On a scale of one to ten, it was a nine,\u201d she said. Initially, she thought she might have contracted salmonella from her horse, but the true cause would soon be revealed in a far more serious diagnosis.<\/p>\n
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Susan stressed that bowel health is often treated as a taboo subject, which can prevent early detection of serious conditions. \u201cI didn\u2019t talk about my bowel habits\u2014who does?\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s part of the problem with bowel cancer. People don\u2019t raise the alarm early enough, and it can cost lives.\u201d Indeed, despite her alarming symptoms, early blood and stool tests failed to show abnormalities, and initial consultations with doctors led her to believe she was fine.<\/p>\n
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The devastating confirmation came after a colonoscopy. \u201cWhen I woke from the procedure, something felt off. I wasn\u2019t offered anything to eat or drink, and a nurse told me the gastroenterologist would see me shortly. Then he delivered the news: he had located a tumor,\u201d Susan shared. Further imaging, including a CT scan and MRI, revealed that the rectal cancer had metastasized to her uterus, pelvic lymph nodes, and right lung. The diagnosis was terminal: stage 4 bowel cancer, incurable, with the focus now on maintaining quality of life and extending survival as much as possible.<\/p>\n
Susan\u2019s message to others is clear and urgent: minor or vague symptoms should never be ignored, and patients must advocate for themselves. \u201cI want people to know the signs. Push for answers if something feels off,\u201d she said. \u201cEven if your blood work is normal, even if doctors say it\u2019s stress, diet, or hormones, trust your instincts. Listen to your body.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since her diagnosis, Susan has taken her experience a step further by launching The Floozie Foundation, a charity aimed at supporting cancer patients and their families in adult cancer wards across Australia. Through her foundation, she hopes to raise awareness, provide emotional and practical support, and reduce the stigma surrounding discussions of bowel health and cancer symptoms.<\/p>\n
Despite the seriousness of her condition, Susan continues to fight with remarkable courage. She regularly updates her followers on Instagram, sharing moments from her ongoing chemotherapy treatments, travels, and family life, offering both inspiration and solidarity to others facing cancer. Her story is a poignant reminder that even seemingly minor symptoms\u2014fatigue, constipation, unexplained pain\u2014can be early warning signs of a life-threatening illness. By speaking openly and candidly about her journey, Susan Schmidt is advocating for early detection, awareness, and patient empowerment, encouraging people everywhere not to ignore their bodies.<\/p>\n
Her journey is ongoing, and while the road ahead is challenging, Susan\u2019s resilience, advocacy, and dedication to her family and community exemplify the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through sharing her experience, she has given countless others the knowledge, courage, and motivation to act early, seek help, and prioritize their health. In a world where bowel health is often overlooked or stigmatized, Susan\u2019s voice stands as a vital reminder: awareness, vigilance, and early action can save lives.<\/p>\n
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Susan Schmidt, a 47-year-old mother of two from Australia, received life-changing news in 2023 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. For Susan, a physiotherapist… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n