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I'm A 34-year-old With Colon Cancer And I Don't Know How Long I Have Left - I Kick Myself For Ignoring Two Key Warning Signs
A 34-year-old man diagnosed with incurable colon cancer has revealed the key symptoms he dismissed — in a bid to help others avoid the same fate.
Joe Faratzis first began suffering problems in 2019, including 'a dull, mild ache' in the lower right of his abdomen from time to time that 'was easy to ignore and forget about'.
He visited his doctor who asked about his bowel habits and referred him for scans but, heartbreakingly, Mr Faratzis didn't go through with the tests, admitting: 'I assumed it was unnecessary.'
Six months later he began noticing blood on the toilet paper when he went to the bathroom, but again claims he 'wasn't too concerned... It was never an alarming amount and it didn't happen every day'.
Writing in US health publication Self, Mr Faratzis, from Los Angeles, says: 'As a 28-year-old man I thought I was invincible, so I didn't do anything about it.'
Two more months passed before he sought medical attention after beginning to bleed heavily — and after a colonoscopy was given his shocking cancer diagnosis.
His treatment is currently holding the disease at bay. One in ten patients with advanced colon cancer of the type Mr Feratzis has live for more than five years.
He now shares his story on TikTok to raise awareness adding: 'I sometimes kick myself thinking back to that first doctor's appointment, and what I would have, could have, should have done.'
Joe Faratzis first began suffering problems in 2019, including 'a dull, mild ache' in the lower right of his abdomen from time to time that 'was easy to ignore and forget about'
He visited his doctor who asked about his bowel habits and referred him for scans but, heartbreakingly, Mr Faratzis didn't go through with the tests, admitting: 'I assumed it was unnecessary'
Six months later he began noticing blood on the toilet paper when he went to the bathroom, but again claims he 'wasn't too concerned... It was never an alarming amount and it didn't happen every day'
Mr Feratzis also admits part of his reluctance to have further bowel investigation was because '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.'
After his diagnosis, worse was to come. The cancer was confined to the bowel when it was initially picked up, but after surgery, within the first few months of treatment it 'exploded' through his body.
Tumors appeared in his lungs and liver, at which point the disease is termed stage four, and considered incurable.
Having undergone more treatment, including further surgery in 2021 and 2022, he is currently clear of cancer — but if and when it might return is unknown.
'I probably had nine or 10 lung surgeries that worked, but also led to some not-so-fun complications, like a collapsed lung, along the way,' wrote Mr Feratzis.
'I asked my doctor if I was going to die... I was never given a prognosis, or survival rate, for what I'm going through.
'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.
Writing in US health publication Self , Mr Faratzis says: 'As a 28-year-old man I thought I was invincible, so I didn't do anything about it'
He now shares his story on TikTok to raise awareness adding: 'I sometimes kick myself thinking back to that first doctor's appointment, and what I would have, could have, should have done'
'This isn't always the case, but, thankfully, my doctors have been able to surgically remove all the malignant lesions that have popped up so far.'
He is now in 'a never-ending cycle' of tests. Mr Feratzis adds: 'I've had clear scans for the past year — it's the longest stretch I've gone with no lesions.
'I feel good, I'm hopeful, and I live my life as if there isn't an issue. I sometimes kick myself thinking back to that first doctor's appointment, and what I would have, could have, should have done.'
Advising others who find themselves facing similar symptoms, he adds: 'Listen to your body. If you think there's something wrong, it doesn't hurt to go get it checked out.
'If I hadn't waited — 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.'
Mr Feratzis' worrying story comes amid an explosion of bowel and other cancers in younger patients that has baffled doctors around the globe.
The disease has surged by 50 per cent in this age-group over the past three decades, recent data suggests.
The vast majority of bowel cancers still affect those aged over 50.
But the disease in older groups has either declined or remained stable while diagnoses in younger people have risen.
Earlier this year, American actor James Van Der Beek, star of 90s drama Dawson's Creek, revealed he'd been diagnosed at the age of just 47.
In 2022, BBC host and campaigner Dame Deborah James succumbed to the disease at the age of just 40.
While some experts believe the explanation must lie with rising levels of obesity, which affects the digestive system, others suggest antibiotic over-use, mobile phone radiation and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water could be to blame.
A growing number of experts are pointing to one major cause: ultra-processed foods.
Also known as UPFs, these are ready-made foods — including bread, cereals and even salad dressing — made with artificial ingredients used to preserve, add flavour and enhance texture.
Some have even gone as far as to say they could be as dangerous as tobacco — and should come with a cigarette-style health warning.
Colon cancer in older groups has either declined or remained stable while diagnoses in younger people have risen
The disease has surged by 50 per cent this age-group over the past three decades, recent data suggests
The main symptoms of colon cancer are the same for all ages: Changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhoea, constipation or both.
A change in frequency of bowel movements or the feeling of needing to go, even if you've just been.
Blood in the stool or toilet or bleeding from the rectum are also tell-tale signs.
Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, bloating or feeling full even when little has been eaten, and changes in appetite are also seen.
Anyone suffers these symptoms should visit their GP visit and may be referred to a colorectal clinic for further investigations.
Commenting on Mr Feratzis' case on Instagram, in a post that's been viewed more than 500,000 times over the past few days, NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan says those worrying if their symptoms are a sign of bowel cancer should follow three key rules.
'Number one, if you experience new symptoms — if you have chronic symptoms, for example if you've had diarrhoea for years, that's less likely to suggest a colorectal cancer.
'But if you experience a few weeks of diarrhoea which is a change from your normal bowel motions, that's a trigger to get evaluated.
'Number two, if you're having a combination of three or more of these symptoms — diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and suffering anaemia — you have a six and a half times greater risk of colorectal cancer than someone who has none of these symptoms.
''Number three, look for a change in symptoms. For example, if you've had years of bright red rectal bleeding, you've been investigated and had a colonoscopy and you've been diagnosed with hemorrhoids.
'Now you've bleeding has changed in colour from bright red to dark red or maroon.
'You should not assume the bleeding is still because of hemorrhoids, because there has been a change to character and nature of that bleeding which warrants further investigation.'
4 Colon Cancer Signs
The number of young adults being diagnosed with colon cancer is rising globally.
In the U.S., health officials have been tracking a rise in early onset colon cancer cases, but a new study from the American Cancer Society shows it's not just young Americans who are being increasingly diagnosed with this disease.
"Out of the 50 countries, about 27 of them were seeing the same trend of increase in early onset colorectal cancer," Dr. William Dahut of the American Cancer Society said.
Researchers mainly looked at highly developed economic countries for the study. And while the rise was noted in more than half the countries researched, it's still unclear what's behind the increase.
"There seems to be a correlation with increased wealth. And we think that's likely related to exposure to poor dietary habits or sedentary lifestyle," Dahut said. "There's not a one-to-one correlation."
Another study by the National Cancer Institute shows four signs common in people who go on to develop colon cancer: diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and iron-deficiency anemia.
The agency says just having one of these signs is linked to nearly twice the likelihood of being diagnosed with early onset colorectal cancer.
"There's more genetic risk in younger patients. We do know a correlation between obesity, metabolic changes and colorectal cancer," Dahut said. " But for individual patients, we're not actually sure what often triggers this."
'It Was Almost Like A Food Allergy': Woman Ignores Her Stomach Ache. Then She Learns What It Really Is
A woman's TikTok video about colon cancer symptoms has struck a chord with viewers, prompting many to share their own experiences and advice in the comments.
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TikToker Cherl (@just.Cherl), diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at the age of 44, opened up about five key symptoms she says she ignored for years.
Reflecting on her journey, Cherl hopes sharing her story will help others recognize these warning signs early and seek medical advice before it's too late.
Her video has garnered 2.3 million views at the time of writing.
What are the 5 symptoms the TikToker ignored?Cherl begins by detailing her severe stomachaches, a symptom she describes as persistent and debilitating.
"Every time I ate something, I would get sick," she explains. "My stomach would just hurt… fried food, coffee, teas, meat… whatever you can possibly think of, my stomach would hurt."
The pain was so intense that it disrupted her daily life.
"I became an introvert," she states. "I couldn't go out or hang out because who knows when I'd have to excuse myself and go to the bathroom over and over."
The second symptom she ignored was a dramatic change in her bowel habits.
"I went for days without having a bowel movement," Cherl says, noting that she thought it was due to her low food intake or the iron supplements she was taking.
"This was in the early stages when, if I had gone to the doctor, they would have seen polyps or tumors," she explains.
Cherl mentions how easy it is to dismiss these symptoms.
"We think stomachaches are normal," she says. "But if you have a stomachache two out of three meals or you're constantly using Pepto Bismol or anti-diarrhea medication, there's something wrong."
Fatigue was another red flag Cherl wishes she hadn't ignored"I was always tired and cold," she shares. "I could sleep eight hours and still be exhausted. I'd even have to pull over while driving to take a nap."
Cherl also mentions her ongoing struggle with low iron levels, which began in her 20s. She recalls an incident when the Red Cross refused her blood donation due to low iron, a warning sign she didn't follow up on at the time.
Another overlooked symptom was her reaction to exercise. "My heart would beat like it was going to jump out of my chest," Cherl explains. "I'd get dizzy when I stood up, and sometimes I had to hold onto something to avoid fainting."
The final and most telling symptom was blood in her stool. Initially, Cherl thought the red blood she saw was due to hemorrhoids, a common occurrence during her younger years. But as time went on, the blood turned dark and tar-like.
"When the cancer progressed, the stool became pencil-shaped," she says, explaining how tumors in the colon can obstruct the passage, altering the stool's shape and color.
Throughout the video, Cherl stresses the importance of reporting issues to a medical professional.
"If you're experiencing any of these symptoms—whether it's stomach pain, constipation, or blood in your stool—go get checked," she urges. "Don't ignore it. I wish I had spoken up sooner."
What do healthcare professionals suggest?According to the Mayo Clinic, if you're experiencing persistent symptoms like changes in bowel habits, blood in your stool, abdominal cramps, or fatigue, it's a good idea to schedule a screening.
Additionally, as the TikToker mentioned, low iron or anemia can also be a sign of colon cancer.
While doctors often can't pinpoint a direct cause for most colon cancers, there are certain risk factors to consider. These include older age, race, a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, and inflammatory bowel disease. Lifestyle factors, such as a high-fat, low-fiber diet, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and smoking, can also increase risks.
If you're concerned about any of these symptoms or risk factors, reaching out to a healthcare provider for advice or scheduling a screening is always a good step.
In the comments, users shared their stories about colon cancer.
"my sister had polyps and went to have them removed," shared one user. "we never saw her alive again."
"Stage 3 Colon cancer. Diagnosed at 34 yrs. Old," wrote another. "Cantaloupe size tumor did not Metastasize. Cancer-free 19 years."
"I have a colonoscopy tomorrow," said a third. "Nov 21, i am a bit scared, I have all the symptoms you mentioned, thanks for sharing."
The Daily Dot has reached out to Cherl via TikTok comment and DM for more information.
@just.Cherl 5 signs of colon cancer that I ignored #coloncancer #womenshealthcare #cancersucks #survivor #cancerswareness ♬ original sound – just.MeInternet culture is chaotic—but we'll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot's web_crawlr newsletter here. You'll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
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