Stage 4 Cancer Survivor's Urgent Warning: Overlooked Minor Signs Can Hide Deadly Disease

A mother of two is speaking out about the seemingly insignificant symptoms she dismissed before receiving a devastating Stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis.

Susan Schmidt, 47, was diagnosed with incurable colon cancer in September 2023, at the age of 45, just four months after mild symptoms began. "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.”

Now, the Australian mother aims to break down societal taboos by urging people to openly discuss their symptoms, especially those related to bowel movements.

The Silent Red Flags

"I didn’t talk about my bowel habits. Who does?” Schmidt questioned, highlighting a pervasive issue. “That’s the problem with bowel cancer – people don’t raise the alarm.”

Despite being a physiotherapist with good health literacy, colon cancer was not on her radar. “I didn’t have blood in my stool, no dramatic symptoms – just fatigue, constipation, and two extreme episodes of pain,” she recounted.

Extreme fatigue was the first subtle symptom she experienced, which she initially attributed to early menopause. By May 2023, Schmidt was so exhausted she "was having to pull the car over just to sleep.”

“I’d drive 15 minutes to drop my daughter off at rowing and then have to stop halfway home to nap for 40 minutes,” she said. “That’s not normal. That was a warning sign. But I brushed it off.” Schmidt simply believed she was "exhausted due to life."

The next minor symptom, constipation, struck during a vacation in France for a friend's wedding. She didn't give it much thought at the time. "I’d never had constipation in my life,” she told the publication. “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.”

Upon her return to Australia, she experienced "absolute agony," describing it as "worse than childbirth." She saw a doctor, but was initially given the all-clear because, as Schmidt recalled, “But they weren’t looking for cancer.”

Push For Answers: Trust Your Instincts

Now facing an incurable illness, Schmidt hopes her urgent warning will resonate. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing even modest symptoms and taking them seriously.

“I want people to know the signs. I want them to push for answers if something feels off,” Schmidt urged. “Even if your blood tests are normal, even if you’re told it’s stress or diet or menopause – follow your instincts.”

Since her diagnosis, Schmidt has founded The Floozie Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Australian nurses and patients battling colon cancer.