A man who has stage 4 colon cancer has opened up about his initial symptoms, and how how regrets ignoring them.
Joe Faratzis was just 28 when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Now 34, Faratzis has been documenting his journey on TikTok, raising awareness about the disease and its symptoms.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 141,000 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in 2021, with nearly 53,000 deaths reported in the same year.
In an article for Self, Faratzis reflected on the early signs of his illness and the crucial mistakes he made in addressing them.
“This all started in 2019,” Faratzis wrote. “I started experiencing a faint abdominal pain whenever I bent over – for example, to tie my shoe. It was a dull, mild ache in the bottom right portion of my abdomen that popped up periodically, maybe once or twice a week, and I didn’t think much of it.”
At the time, the pain was sporadic and mild, making it easy for him to dismiss.
After visiting a doctor, Faratzis was advised to undergo a CT scan. However, he declined, citing cost and skepticism about its necessity.
Six months later, he noticed small amounts of bright red blood on his toilet paper. Still, he chalked it up to minor issues like hemorrhoids or a fissure.
@radiant14percent Hope this can bring some awareness to #coloncancer and #colorectalcancer #cancerawareness #cancerfighter ♬ Another Love – 𝐏𝐌𝐕
“As a 28-year-old man, I thought I was invincible, so I didn’t do anything about it,” he admitted.
“Plus, I didn’t want to just run to the doctor to get a digital rectal exam. That whole situation, where the physician inserts a gloved finger in and around your rectum, seemed uncomfortable and embarrassing.”
The turning point came when he passed gas and saw a significant amount of blood—roughly half a cup.
Though initial blood tests didn’t raise alarms, a subsequent colonoscopy revealed the true cause: a cancerous tumor.
Faratzis was initially diagnosed with stage II colorectal cancer. “The imaging tests showed that the cancer was localized to my colon and hadn’t spread to other parts of my body,” he recalled.
“I had to do chemotherapy, radiation, and get surgery to eliminate all of the cancer from my colon.”
@radiant14percent Replying to @David quick rundown of a few symptoms i had before my colorectal cancer disgnosis for those asking! #cancer #cancersurvivor #cancersymptoms #coloncancerawareness #coloncancersymptoms #rectalcancer #guttok ♬ original sound – radiant14
Despite aggressive treatment, Faratzis later learned that the cancer had metastasized to his lungs and liver, advancing to stage 4.
“I get my chest, abdomen, and pelvis scanned every three months. It’s a never-ending cycle of getting tested,” he shared.
Encouragingly, Faratzis revealed he’s had clear scans for the past year, the longest period without new lesions since his diagnosis.
“I feel good, I’m hopeful, and I live my life as if there isn’t an issue,” he said.
@radiant14percent Live your life full of love and hope #colorectacancer #cancerfighter #cancer #rectalcancer #cancerjourney #stage4cancer #coloncancerawareness #coloncancer ♬ Runaway – Piano Rendition – The Blue Notes & L’Orchestra Cinematique
Still, he admitted to moments of regret about not taking early symptoms more seriously.
Faratzis urged others to be vigilant about their health, saying: “Listen to your body. Be your own health care advocate. No one else is going to hold your hand and do it for you.”
