“I put these symptoms off for months before finally going to get a colonoscopy,” says Joe Faratzis, who was 28 years old when was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. The now-34-year-old shares his experiences with this condition on TikTok to warn others against making his mistake. “Don’t risk your life by waiting to see a doc. Early screening could save you and your family.”
Ignoring early symptoms
Faratzis’s story begins in 2019, when he began feeling abdominal pain when he bent over. Since it was a mild pain that came and went, it was easy to ignore. Nevertheless, he spoke to his primary care doctor, who asked about his bowel movements and ordered a CT scan. Faratzis didn’t understand the relevance of the question, and never followed up on the scan. He assumed it was “unnecessary” and probably “too costly,” as he says to Self.
Young and invincible?
About his months later, he got a new symptom: small amounts of blood on the toilet paper after going to the bathroom. Since he only saw this once or twice a week, he chalked it up to a fissure or hemorrhoids. At the time, he was in his late-20s and thought himself invincible, but in hindsight, he wished he would’ve paid more attention to the blood and the abdominal pain.
“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 to Self. “I went to the bathroom and there was about a half a cup of blood in the toilet.”
Testing for colon cancer
At the appointment, his primary care provider conducted a digital rectal exam but didn’t see any tumor. The only concerning find was some blood in the lower rectum, and so the doctor said it was probably hemorrhoids. Still, he referred Faratzis to a gastrointestinal specialist, who also didn’t seem concerned. He said it was unlikely to be cancer but scheduled a colonoscopy to make sure. However, he mentioned that more younger people are diagnosed with colon cancer nowadays.
Although the blood work was normal, aside from the occasional low red blood cell count, Faratzis underwent the colonoscopy. But when he woke up, he learned that the doctors had found a large tumor and they had sent a sample for testing.
Officially diagnosed with colorectal cancer
Three days later, Faratzis received the official diagnosis: adenocarcinoma, which is malignant colorectal cancer. Further testing showed that the cancer hadn’t spread beyond the colon. But he still had stage II colorectal cancer, and needed surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. He managed to complete these rounds of treatment, ending with an operation to remove the tumor from his colon. But the nightmare continued.
The cycle of treatments
Follow-up imaging made a horrible discovery: the cancer had exploded into his liver and lungs. Faratzis now had stage IV colorectal cancer. His doctor assured him this didn’t spell out death but “we’d have to stay on top of my health,” which turned out to be a rigorous and overwhelming process. It included months of intravenous chemotherapy and laparoscopic procedures to eliminate the cancer but the lesions kept returning and the cycle of treatment continued. He also underwent “9 or 10 lung surgeries that worked” but also came with complications, including a collapsed lung.
Three months at a time
Today, he is cancer-free, but Faratzis undergoes testing every three months. And though he had never received a prognosis, “I learned that, even if you have stage IV cancer, if you’re able to find tumors early and have them removed, there’s a chance you could continue to live for a really long time.”
Although he tries to stay hopeful and live life to the fullest, it’s difficult not to beat himself up about not getting the original CT scan “At this point, it’s a mental game. I try not to worry that tomorrow will be my last day.”
The rise of colon cancer in young people
Dr. Sermed Mezher, a GP who works for the NHS, shares Faratzis’s story with his audience to further spread awareness. As of now, there’s no known direct cause of colon cancer, but researchers have linked an increased risk to an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet, according to WHO. “There is of course a genetic component to cancer risk,” says Mezher, “but Joe admits that he was having a diet high in fast foods, processed meats, and low in fibre, which have been shown to also increase the risk.”
Dr. Mezher adds. “It’s very important for young people to recognise and act on these signs early as the cases have been rising and the chance of survival with stage four is just 13%. But he cleared it.”
Signs of colorectal cancer
Unfortunately, colon cancer often has no symptoms at first, so screenings are the best way to catch it in its early stages. Common signs include:
- Changes in bowel movements, like diarrhea, constipation, or narrow stools
- Perpetual tiredness and fatigue
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Persistent abdominal cramps or bloating
- Blood in the stool
Prevention
Colon cancer can’t be prevented entirely, but individuals can reduce their risk through lifestyle changes like:
- Exercising regularly
- Stopping smoking
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Consuming more high-fiber foods like fruit and vegetables
- Reducing consumption of processed meats
Get screened
People who suspect they have colorectal cancer should speak to their doctors and get screenings such as stool-based tests (which you can get for free from the American Cancer Society). In fact, Faratzis created Radiant 14, an organization to empower colorectal cancer survivors. “Be your own health care advocate,” Faratzis concluded. “No one else is going to hold your hand and do it for you.”
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