A mother of two, Susan Schmidt, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in September 2023 at age 45. Despite experiencing mild symptoms like extreme fatigue, constipation, and severe pain, she initially ignored them, attributing fatigue to early menopause and constipation to rich food while on vacation.
Susan, a former physiotherapist, admits she never considered bowel cancer and didn’t discuss her bowel habits, which she believes is a common issue. After doctors initially dismissed her symptoms, she was diagnosed too late for a cure.
Now, Susan urges people to recognize and act on early warning signs, even if tests come back normal or symptoms seem minor. She has founded The Floozie Foundation to support Australian nurses and patients with colon cancer.