Here’s a normal, natural rewrite of the passage:
When 47-year-old mother of two, Susan Schmidt, started feeling unusually tired, she assumed it was due to early menopause or the everyday stress of life. What she didn’t realize was that her body was trying to warn her — a warning she now wishes she had taken more seriously.
Four months later, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.
“It’s incurable,” she told the Daily Mail. “I’m doing what I can to stay healthy for as long as possible. I’ll probably go back on chemotherapy after my next trip overseas.”
Now, Susan is opening up about her experience, hoping to shed light on symptoms that are often dismissed — especially those related to bowel health, a subject many find uncomfortable to talk about.
“I never discussed my bowel habits. Who does?” she said. “That’s the issue — people don’t speak up until it’s too late.”
A former physiotherapist, Susan admits that despite her medical training, bowel cancer never crossed her mind.
“There was no blood in my stool. Nothing alarming. Just fatigue, constipation, and a few episodes of intense pain.”
It all started with persistent fatigue — something many people deal with and tend to ignore.
“I was so tired I had to pull over and nap in the car,” she recalled. “I’d drop my daughter off, then sleep for 40 minutes before I could drive home.”
Next came constipation, which she dismissed as a result of indulging in rich food while on vacation in France.
“I thought I’d just eaten too much cheese,” she joked. “I’d never been constipated before, but I didn’t give it a second thought.”
But once she returned to Australia, the symptoms worsened.
“The pain was worse than childbirth,” she said. “I saw a doctor, but cancer wasn’t even on their radar.”
Today, Susan is sharing her story in hopes of encouraging others to listen to their bodies and advocate for themselves — even if their symptoms seem minor or tests initially come back clear.
“If something doesn’t feel right, keep pushing for answers. Don’t let shame or assumptions stop you.”
She’s also founded The Floozie Foundation, a nonprofit that supports colon cancer patients and nurses across Australia, using her journey to promote awareness and early detection.
“I want people to recognize the signs,” she said. “Even the little ones — especially the little ones.”
