Five years after receiving a stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosis at the age of 28, Joe Faratzis is sharing the six warning signs he experienced before discovering he had a severe illness.
“I put these symptoms off for months before finally going to get a colonoscopy,” Faratzis revealed on TikTok. “Don’t risk your life by waiting to see a doc. Early screening could save you and your family.”
In 2021, the US Preventive Services Task Force revised its colorectal cancer screening recommendations, lowering the starting age for screening from 50 to 45 for adults with average risk.
The decision was influenced by a consistent increase in colorectal cancer cases among individuals under 50. Experts emphasize the importance of consulting a healthcare provider immediately if you experience any symptoms of colon cancer, regardless of your age.
Faratzis shared with Self magazine that his symptoms began in 2019. The longtime TMZ producer initially felt mild abdominal pain when bending over and brought up his concerns with his primary care doctor, who recommended a CT scan. However, Faratzis admitted he “blew off the test,” thinking it wasn’t necessary.
Six months later, he noticed blood on his toilet paper but dismissed it again, assuming it was due to hemorrhoids.
Looking back, Faratzis acknowledges he thought he was “invincible” and also didn’t want to undergo the discomfort of a digital rectal exam.
Eventually, his symptoms became too serious to ignore.
“The big catalyst that motivated me to take my symptoms seriously occurred a few months later. I was sitting on the couch and I passed gas, looked down, and saw blood,” explained Faratzis, now 34. “I went to the bathroom and there was about a 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.’”
The disease is triggered by DNA alterations, which can either be inherited from one’s parents or occur later in life due to factors such as consuming a low-fiber, high-fat Western diet, leading a sedentary lifestyle, heavy alcohol consumption, and/or smoking.
It ranks as the second deadliest form of cancer in the United States, with the American Cancer Society projecting that approximately 53,000 Americans will lose their lives to colorectal cancer this year.
Early detection significantly increases the chances of survival. Common treatment options include surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Here are six symptoms he regretted overlooking:
- Persistent sweating and night sweats
- Pain in the lower right side of the abdomen
- Increased frequency of bathroom visits
- Mild abdominal cramping when bending over
- Constipation and cramps
- Blood in stool
“[One thing] that I should have paid more attention to is just noticing that I was going to the bathroom way more often than I should have, probably like a couple times a day,” he explained on TikTok.
Faratzis shared that his treatment included oral and intravenous chemotherapy, surgeries to remove the cancerous section of his colon, and procedures to freeze and burn lesions that had spread to his liver and lungs.
@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
“If I got the CT scan back in 2019 when I had my earliest colorectal cancer symptoms — I might not have wound up in the position I’m in now,” Faratzis shared with Self in March.
Thanks to chemotherapy and other treatments, Faratzis’ condition improved, and by 2023, he received his first clear CT scans. In April, he celebrated a full year of clear results.
His most recent scan was just last week. Reflecting on the experience, he remarked: “I get to, I guess, kind of forget about this for another three months” — until his next scan is due.
Faratzis has also been using social media to raise awareness about symptoms others might overlook. “Turns out, having a functioning rectum is actually really important for your quality of life,” he noted.
