The life of 47-year-old Brisbane mother Susan Schmidt changed irrevocably in September 2023, when doctors confirmed she had stage 4 bowel cancer. A physiotherapist, wife, and mother of two, Susan had always considered herself health-conscious and attentive to her wellbeing. Cancer was not on her radar. In fact, her symptoms had seemed vague, manageable, and easy to rationalize—subtle shifts in energy levels, unusual digestive discomfort, and moments of pain she attributed to stress or hormonal changes. Like many people juggling family responsibilities and work commitments, she placed herself at the bottom of her priority list. By the time she received her diagnosis, the cancer had already spread beyond her bowel. Now, her treatment is considered palliative rather than curative, aimed at extending both the length and quality of her life. Speaking candidly about her journey, Susan has said the goal is simple: “To stay well for as long as I can.” She has accepted that chemotherapy will likely remain part of her future, though she continues to plan meaningful milestones, including travel and time with her family, refusing to let the disease define every aspect of her remaining years.

One of the strongest messages Susan shares is about silence—specifically, the silence surrounding bowel health. Conversations about digestion, stool changes, and bowel habits remain uncomfortable for many people, even in clinical settings. Susan openly acknowledges that she avoided discussing her symptoms because they felt embarrassing and minor. “Who talks about their bowel habits?” she reflected. That reluctance, she now believes, is one of the biggest barriers to early detection. Bowel cancer does not discriminate by personality or lifestyle, and yet stigma often delays medical intervention. The discomfort people feel about discussing changes in bowel movements, constipation, or abdominal pain can translate into postponed appointments and missed diagnostic windows. Susan’s experience underscores how cultural taboos can have life-altering consequences. She hopes that by speaking frankly, she can normalize these conversations and encourage others to treat bowel symptoms with the same seriousness as chest pain or persistent headaches. Breaking that silence, she argues, could save lives.

In hindsight, the early warning signs were there, though they appeared disconnected and easily dismissed. Months before her diagnosis, Susan experienced profound fatigue that disrupted her daily routine. After driving her daughter to rowing practice, she would need to pull over and nap before heading home—something entirely out of character for her. As a healthcare professional, she understood the importance of listening to the body, yet she attributed the exhaustion to early menopause or the natural strain of a busy lifestyle. Later, during a trip to France for a wedding, she developed constipation for the first time in her life. Surrounded by rich food and celebration, she assumed dietary indulgence was to blame. Upon returning to Australia, however, her symptoms escalated dramatically. What began as discomfort evolved into an episode of excruciating abdominal pain that left her on the bathroom floor, vomiting and unable to stand. The pain, she later said, surpassed childbirth. Even then, she suspected food poisoning or a gastrointestinal infection—anything but cancer. The episodic nature of her symptoms made it difficult to connect them into a single, alarming pattern.

Initial medical testing did little to clarify the situation. Blood work and stool samples appeared normal, offering false reassurance. It was only after persistent discomfort led to a colonoscopy that doctors identified the tumor. Susan recalls waking from the procedure with an intuitive sense that something was wrong. The absence of routine post-procedure comforts—a drink of water, a snack—felt ominous. Soon after, the gastroenterologist delivered the devastating news: a tumor had been found. Further imaging revealed the cancer had metastasized to her uterus, pelvic lymph nodes, and right lung. The diagnosis—advanced metastatic bowel cancer—reframed every aspect of her life in a single conversation. What makes her story particularly sobering is that classic warning signs such as visible blood in the stool were absent. Her symptoms—fatigue, constipation, intermittent abdominal pain—were ambiguous. This ambiguity highlights a critical public health issue: bowel cancer can present quietly, without dramatic red flags, especially in younger patients who may not meet standard screening age thresholds.

Rather than retreat inward, Susan chose to transform her diagnosis into purpose. She founded The Floozie Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting adult cancer patients in hospital wards across Australia. The foundation focuses on comfort care, emotional support, and advocacy—areas she felt were often under-resourced for adults facing serious illness. Through fundraising initiatives and community outreach, Susan works to ensure patients feel seen and supported during some of their most vulnerable moments. Even while undergoing chemotherapy, she remains active in awareness campaigns, using social media to document the realities of treatment while emphasizing hope and agency. Her posts do not sugarcoat the physical toll of cancer, but they also reflect resilience and gratitude. By sharing her journey openly, she has created a space where others can discuss symptoms, fears, and uncertainties without shame. In doing so, she has expanded her role from patient to advocate, transforming private pain into public impact.

Medical experts consistently stress that bowel cancer outcomes improve dramatically when detected early. Screening programs, particularly colonoscopies and at-home stool tests, have reduced mortality rates in populations where participation is high. However, delayed diagnosis remains common, especially when symptoms are mild or attributed to less serious causes. Susan’s story serves as a powerful reminder that persistence matters. She urges people to trust their instincts and push for further testing if something feels wrong—even when initial tests return normal results. Common early symptoms such as ongoing fatigue, changes in bowel habits, abdominal discomfort, unexplained weight loss, and persistent constipation or diarrhea may have benign explanations, but they warrant medical evaluation if they persist. “You’re allowed to speak up,” she emphasizes. “Your health is worth it.” As she continues navigating life with stage 4 cancer, Susan remains determined to help others feel less isolated and more empowered. Her journey is not only a story of illness but a call to action: listen to your body, challenge discomfort around difficult topics, and advocate fiercely for your own wellbeing. In doing so, lives may be changed—and in some cases, saved.