A man diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer shared the warning signs he noticed before his diagnosis.
Joe Faratzis admitted that he ignored these symptoms for months, even though they indicated something serious.
On TikTok, he revealed that he finally decided to get a colonoscopy after brushing off the signs for too long.
He is now urging people to get screened early, saying it could save their lives and prevent their families from suffering. He warns against delaying a visit to the doctor.
He shared that his symptoms began in 2019, and he was diagnosed with cancer five years ago at age 28.
As a TMZ producer, he admitted ignoring his doctor’s concerns and a CT scan because he didn’t think the symptoms were serious.
Self Magazine reported that he believed nothing could happen to him until the symptoms became too severe to ignore. Now, he shares his story to raise awareness and encourage others not to overlook serious health signs.
Sweating and night sweats can be symptoms of advanced colon cancer. According to Dr. Cathy Eng, a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, other signs include weight loss, pain, chronic anemia, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of energy. These symptoms suggest that the cancer has either spread or reached a more difficult stage to treat.
Lower right abdominal pain could also be a warning sign. Healthline explains that the area where you feel pain may indicate the location of the cancer in your colon.
For example, the ascending colon, which connects to the small intestine and is located on the lower right side, plays a role in moving stool upward. Pain in this area can signal an issue.
Frequent bathroom visits can also be a warning sign. He mentioned, “I should have noticed that I was going to the bathroom more often than usual, sometimes a couple of times a day.”
Additionally, he experienced severe abdominal cramps whenever he bent over. Despite this, he dismissed the symptoms and a CT scan, assuming it was nothing serious.
Constipation and Crams
The MD Anderson Cancer Center states that both constipation and diarrhea are clear signs of colorectal cancer, even though the NHS notes that the disease can cause changes in bowel habits.
Blood in the stool is another warning sign. He initially noticed blood on his toilet paper six months later but assumed it was due to hemorrhoids and ignored it.
However, this was a major warning that something more serious was going on.
The 34-year-old shared that the moment he took his symptoms seriously came a few months later. “I was sitting on the couch, passed gas, and noticed blood. When I went to the bathroom, there was about half a cup of blood in the toilet. It wasn’t painful, but I thought, ‘This is serious.’”
Faratzis explained that during his treatment, he underwent oral and intravenous chemotherapy, surgery to remove cancerous parts of his colon, and procedures to burn and freeze lesions on his liver and lungs.
Thankfully, his health improved with treatment, and in 2023, he had his first clear CT scan. In April of this year, he celebrated a full year of clear scans, though he knows he has to stay vigilant with follow-ups every three months.
Reflecting on his journey, he admitted, “If I had gotten the CT scan back in 2019 when my symptoms first appeared, I might not have ended up in this situation.”
Now an advocate for early detection, he encourages others, saying, “Having a healthy rectum is essential for your quality of life.”