{"id":31020,"date":"2025-10-25T20:47:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T20:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=31020"},"modified":"2025-10-25T20:47:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T20:47:54","slug":"stage-4-cancer-patient-warns-overlooked-minor-sign-can-mask-fatal-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=31020","title":{"rendered":"Stage 4 cancer patient warns overlooked minor sign can mask fatal disease"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"264\" data-end=\"689\">When forty-seven-year-old Susan Schmidt from Brisbane began feeling unusually tired and constipated, she never imagined that these mild and seemingly ordinary symptoms were the early signs of stage four bowel cancer. Diagnosed in 2023, her world changed completely. Yet through her struggle, she has found a new purpose: to raise awareness about early detection and to break the silence that too often surrounds bowel health.<\/p><div class=\"mbhlm69fed55663ad5\" ><div style=\"width:100%; max-width:1200px; margin:0 auto;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/bolt-casino.com?r=0BFDBF1283\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    <img \n      src=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f8693ebb-2018-480f-a2f7-0096810c07f0.jpg\" \n      alt=\"200% Deposit Bonus + 10% Cashback\" \n      style=\"width:100%; height:auto; display:block; border-radius:8px; cursor:pointer;\"\n    \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 1201px) {\r\n.mbhlm69fed55663ad5 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) {\r\n.mbhlm69fed55663ad5 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) {\r\n.mbhlm69fed55663ad5 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) {\r\n.mbhlm69fed55663ad5 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {\r\n.mbhlm69fed55663ad5 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\n<p data-start=\"691\" data-end=\"1054\">Susan remembers her first symptoms as both \u201cstrange\u201d and \u201csubtle.\u201d The fatigue, she says, was relentless. \u201cI would drive my daughter to rowing practice early in the morning and then need to nap in the car on the way home,\u201d she recalled. \u201cThat was not normal. It was a warning sign, but I brushed it off because I thought I was just tired from work and parenting.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-9\">\n<div id=\"tinyhouse-zone.com_responsive_2\" data-google-query-id=\"CJjYjZScwJADFTTORAcdU0Ur1A\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/23201474937\/tinyhouse-zone.com\/tinyhouse-zone.com_responsive_2_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"1056\" data-end=\"1498\">A few months later, while traveling in France, she noticed something new. She became constipated for the first time in her life. Assuming it was the rich food or the change in routine, she paid little attention. But once she returned home, her discomfort intensified. \u201cI ended up on the bathroom floor in absolute agony,\u201d she said. \u201cI was vomiting, had diarrhoea, and the pain was worse than childbirth. I knew something was seriously wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1500\" data-end=\"1904\">Initial blood tests and scans revealed nothing alarming, and doctors assured her that cancer was unlikely. However, Susan\u2019s instincts told her otherwise. When her pain did not subside, she pushed for more tests. A colonoscopy finally provided the answer she had feared. \u201cWhen I woke up, I could tell from the doctor\u2019s face that something was wrong,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cHe told me they had found a tumor.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-10\">\n<div id=\"tinyhouse-zone.com_responsive_3\" data-google-query-id=\"CLL-jpScwJADFR2Kgwcd9hsT9A\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/23201474937\/tinyhouse-zone.com\/tinyhouse-zone.com_responsive_3_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"1906\" data-end=\"2317\">Further scans revealed that the cancer had already spread to her uterus, pelvic lymph nodes, and right lung. The diagnosis was devastating, but Susan refused to give up. Instead of surrendering to despair, she chose to fight with determination and grace. \u201cI allow myself moments to cry,\u201d she said, \u201cbut then I pick myself up and remind myself that life is still worth living. I have so much to be grateful for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2319\" data-end=\"2684\">Susan now uses her voice and experience to encourage others to listen to their bodies and to trust their intuition. \u201cEven if your blood work looks normal or your doctor blames it on stress or diet, keep pushing for answers if something feels off,\u201d she urged. \u201cYou know your body better than anyone. If I had ignored the signs any longer, I might not be here today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2686\" data-end=\"3150\">Transforming her pain into purpose, Susan founded\u00a0<strong data-start=\"2736\" data-end=\"2762\">The Floozie Foundation<\/strong>, a community initiative dedicated to supporting adult cancer patients and their families across Australia. Through her advocacy work, she promotes early screening, emotional support, and honest conversations about bowel health. Her openness has inspired thousands of people to book screenings and to talk more freely about symptoms that are often considered too uncomfortable to mention.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3152\" data-end=\"3360\">Susan\u2019s journey is not only about surviving cancer but also about living with courage, compassion, and hope. Her story is a powerful reminder that early detection saves lives and that silence can be deadly.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3362\" data-end=\"3604\">She continues to share her experiences online, using social media to spread awareness and to remind others that no symptom is too small to investigate. Her message is simple but profound. Listen to your body. Ask questions. Seek help early.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3606\" data-end=\"3816\">Her strength reminds us that even in the darkest moments, purpose can grow from pain. And through her voice, countless others may find the courage to speak up, get tested, and take control of their health.\u00a0\ud83d\udc9b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When forty-seven-year-old Susan Schmidt from Brisbane began feeling unusually tired and constipated, she never imagined that these mild and seemingly ordinary symptoms were the early signs of stage four bowel cancer. Diagnosed in 2023, her world changed completely. Yet through her struggle, she has found a new purpose: to raise awareness about early detection and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[19,17,11,20,24,15,12,25,22,18,16,21,14,23,13],"class_list":["post-31020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-chronic-diseases","tag-fitness","tag-health-tips","tag-healthcare-technology","tag-healthy-lifestyle","tag-healthy-living","tag-medical-advice","tag-medical-awareness","tag-medical-research","tag-mental-health","tag-nutrition","tag-patient-care","tag-preventive-care","tag-public-health","tag-wellness"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Stage 4 cancer patient warns overlooked minor sign can mask fatal disease - VM News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=31020\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stage 4 cancer patient warns overlooked minor sign can mask fatal disease - VM News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When forty-seven-year-old Susan Schmidt from Brisbane began feeling unusually tired and constipated, she never imagined that these mild and seemingly ordinary symptoms were the early signs of stage four bowel cancer. 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