Susan Schmidt received the life-changing news that she had bowel cancer back in September 2023.
She was 45 at the time, and her diagnosis came about four months after she began noticing unusual but subtle health changes.
“The diagnosis is incurable,” she shared with the Daily Mail. “The plan is to stay well for as long as I can. I’ll likely go back on chemo after my next trip overseas.”
The Australian mom emphasized: “I didn’t talk about my bowel habits. Who does?”
“That’s the problem with bowel cancer – people don’t raise the alarm.”
The first sign Susan experienced was a deep sense of tiredness, the kind that made everyday tasks feel difficult.
At first, she assumed it might be linked to early menopause and didn’t think much of it.
By May 2023, the fatigue had become overwhelming. She recalled needing to stop her car and take naps just to get through the day.
Looking back, Susan said she simply believed she was worn out from the pressures of life.
Another symptom that didn’t raise alarms at the time was constipation.
It first hit while she was in France, enjoying a dream vacation to attend a friend’s wedding.
“But in France, I just wasn’t going properly. I figured it was the rich French food, too much cheese. I didn’t think more of it.”
She began experiencing extreme abdominal pain, which she described as worse than childbirth.
After visiting a doctor, she was told nothing was seriously wrong.
“But they weren’t looking for cancer,” Schmidt remembered.
“I want people to know the signs. I want them to push for answers if something feels off,” Schmidt added.
“Even if your blood tests are normal, even if you’re told it’s stress or diet or menopause – follow your instincts.”
Since then, she has launched The Floozie Foundation — a charity that offers support to bowel cancer patients and nurses throughout Australia.
