28-Year-Old Man Regrets Overlooking These 6 Cancer Symptoms—Don’t Make the Same Mistake!
When Joe Faratzis was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at just 28 years old, it came as a complete shock. Now 34, he looks back at the six warning signs he ignored—symptoms that could have led to an earlier diagnosis. His story is a powerful reminder of why paying attention to your health is so important.
Faratzis, who works as a producer at TMZ, admits that he brushed off early symptoms for months, assuming they were minor issues. His journey with cancer began in 2019, but he didn’t get checked until it was too late. When he finally underwent a colonoscopy, he received the life-changing news. Now, he is speaking out to encourage others to listen to their bodies and get screened early.
Dr. Cathy Eng, a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains that symptoms like night sweats, fatigue, anemia, and weight loss can indicate advanced colon cancer. Faratzis often woke up drenched in sweat but didn’t think much of it.
Pain in the lower right side of the stomach can be a warning sign of colon cancer, as noted by Healthline. Faratzis remembers feeling this pain early on but assumed it was nothing serious, so he never got it checked.
One of the biggest signs Faratzis overlooked was needing to use the bathroom much more often than usual. He recalls going multiple times a day, which was unusual for him, but he never thought it could be a sign of cancer.
Every time Faratzis bent down, he felt sharp stomach cramps. At the time, he dismissed the discomfort as something minor. Looking back, he now realizes it was an early warning sign.
The MD Anderson Cancer Center states that constipation and abdominal cramps are common symptoms of colorectal cancer. Faratzis had both but didn’t take them seriously, assuming they were temporary issues.
The most alarming sign was blood in his stool. Faratzis initially blamed it on hemorrhoids, but as the bleeding worsened, he finally went to the doctor. He now says this was the turning point that made him seek help.
After his diagnosis, Faratzis went through chemotherapy, surgery, and multiple procedures to remove cancerous growths in his liver and lungs. Thanks to these treatments, his condition improved. By 2023, he received his first clear CT scan, and in April 2024, he celebrated one full year without signs of cancer.
Faratzis deeply regrets waiting so long to see a doctor. He believes that if he had addressed his symptoms in 2019, his cancer might have been caught earlier. Now, he urges others to take screenings seriously, saying, “Early detection could save your life.”
His story is a powerful warning: don’t ignore unusual symptoms. Paying attention to your body and acting quickly could be the difference between life and death.
