Two women have shared emotional warnings after receiving late-stage cancer diagnoses following subtle, easily dismissed symptoms.

Beth Riehle was diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer in 2024. Her symptoms began with a persistent migraine that spread to her ear and jaw, followed by fatigue and tongue discoloration. Multiple doctors missed the signs until a specialist confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. “I always felt like I wasn’t feeling good, but wasn’t necessarily sick,” Beth told *TODAY.com*. After chemo and radiation, doctors discovered a second tumor and removed part of her tongue, warning she had only a “50/50 chance” of speaking again. She now uses TikTok to share her speech recovery and raise awareness.

Meanwhile, Australian mom Susan Schmidt, 47, ignored signs of bowel cancer, assuming her extreme fatigue and constipation were due to menopause or travel. “I was having to pull the car over just to sleep,” she said. After months of pain and misdiagnoses, she was told the cancer was incurable. Now, she urges others to “push for answers” if something feels wrong, adding, “Even if your blood tests are normal… follow your instincts.”

Both women are using their experiences to encourage earlier detection and conversation about overlooked symptoms.