Joe Faratzis, who was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer, has shared the warning signs he experienced before discovering his illness.
Reflecting on his symptoms, he admitted that he had ignored them for months. In a TikTok video, he revealed that he initially dismissed the signs but eventually chose to undergo a colonoscopy for further evaluation.
Now, he urges others to prioritize early screening, emphasizing that “early screening could save you and your family” and warning against “risking your life by waiting to see a doctor.”
Faratzis shared that his symptoms first appeared in 2019, and he was diagnosed at 28, five years ago.
As a TMZ producer, he admitted to dismissing his doctor’s concerns and a recommended CT scan, believing at the time that his symptoms weren’t serious.
According to Self magazine, he felt invincible, until his condition worsened to the point where he could no longer ignore it. Now, he is speaking out to raise awareness and encourage others not to overlook concerning symptoms.
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Excessive Sweating and Night Sweats
Dr. Cathy Eng, Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told *Patient Power* that symptoms of advanced colon cancer include “night sweats, weight loss, pain, chronic anemia, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of energy.”
This suggests that the cancer has either spread or progressed to a stage where treatment becomes more difficult.
Pain in the Lower Right Abdomen
According to Healthline, the location of pain can help determine where the cancer is in the colon.
The ascending colon, which connects to the small intestine, is located on the lower right side of the abdomen. Its function is to move stool upward. Pain in this area may indicate an issue in this part of the colon.
Increased Bathroom Visits
“One thing I should have paid more attention to was noticing that I was going to the bathroom much more often than normal, probably a couple of times a day,” he shared.
Abdominal Pain When Bending Over
He revealed that he experienced severe pain every time he leaned forward. However, he initially dismissed his CT scan results, believing the discomfort was minor.
Constipation and Abdominal Cramps
According to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, both constipation and diarrhea are common indicators of colorectal cancer, even though the NHS notes that the disease can lead to changes in bowel habits.
Presence of Blood in Stool
Six months after experiencing initial symptoms, he noticed blood on his toilet paper but dismissed it as hemorrhoids. However, a more alarming sign soon followed.
The 34-year-old recalled, “The big catalyst that motivated me to take my symptoms seriously happened a few months later. I was sitting on the couch, passed gas, looked down, and saw blood.”
Concerned, he went to the bathroom and discovered about half a cup of blood in the toilet. “It wasn’t painful, but I was like, ‘Holy f–k — obviously there’s some issue here.’”
Throughout his medical journey, Faratzis underwent oral and intravenous chemotherapy, surgery to remove cancerous sections of his colon, and procedures to burn and freeze lesions on his liver and lungs.
Fortunately, his health improved with treatment, and in 2023, he received his first clear CT scan.
By April of this year, he had celebrated a full year of clear scans, allowing him to “kind of forget about this for another three months” until his next check-up.
Reflecting on his experience, he admitted, “If I had gotten the CT scan back in 2019 when I first had symptoms, I might not have wound up in the position I’m in now.”
Now an advocate for early detection, he encourages others to take their health seriously, reminding them: “Turns out, having a functioning rectum is actually vital for your quality of life.”
