What began as simple exhaustion turned out to be something far more serious for Susan Schmidt, a 45-year-old mother of two from Brisbane. In September 2023, she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer — a devastating and incurable condition.
Susan admits she overlooked early symptoms, believing they were harmless. “The goal now is to stay well for as long as I can. I’ll probably resume chemotherapy after my next overseas trip,” she told The Daily Mail.
She wants others to learn from her experience, stressing the importance of paying attention to bowel health. “People don’t talk about their bowel habits — who does? That’s part of the problem with bowel cancer. People don’t raise the alarm early enough.”
Her first symptom was unrelenting fatigue just months before her diagnosis. “I’d drive my daughter to rowing and then have to stop on the way home for a nap. That’s not normal. That was a warning sign, but I brushed it off.”
During a trip to France, Susan experienced constipation for the first time, blaming rich foods and travel. Later, back in Brisbane, she endured excruciating abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea that lasted for hours.
“The pain was worse than childbirth. I thought I had salmonella from my horse. At the hospital, they told me I was fine — no one was looking for cancer,” she recalled.
It wasn’t until further tests that doctors confirmed stage 4 bowel cancer. Now Susan is determined to raise awareness. “Even if your blood work is normal, even if they say it’s stress or diet, trust your instincts and push for answers.”
She has since launched The Floozie Foundation to support cancer patients and their families, while continuing to share her story to help save lives.