34-Year-Old TikToker Says Hemorrhoids Gave Him a ‘False Sense of Security’ Before Unignorable Symptoms Revealed Colon Cancer

Faratzis takes to TikTok to keep his followers updated on his stage 4 colon cancer journey. Stage 4 colon cancer means the cancer has spread beyond the colon to other parts of the body.

“This all started in 2019. I started experiencing a faint abdominal pain whenever I bent over,” Faratzis said in a series of TikTok videos. He added that he didn’t think much of it at the time. However, to be on the safe side, he brought his unusual symptoms to his doctor’s attention, who ordered a CT scan to get a better look at what was going on inside. Regrettably, Faratzis never followed through with the CT scan.

As months went by, Faratzis continued experiencing occasional abdominal pain and blood spots after having a bowel movement.

“I figured the blood was due to a benign issue, like a fissure or hemorrhoids,” giving Faratzis a false sense of security, he later admitted.

Growing increasingly concerned, Faratzis returned to his doctor, who had conducted a digital rectal exam but found nothing concerning. Although the doctor suspected hemorrhoids, he referred Faratzis to a gastrointestinal specialist who recommended a colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy is a procedure doctors use to screen for colon cancer by looking inside your colon. While there are benefits to getting a colonoscopy, including the doctor’s ability to remove precancerous polyps in real time, other screening methods also exist.

WATCH: Understanding colonoscopies.

During the coloscopy, Faratzis said his doctor found a “big tumor,” and a follow-up biopsy determined it was cancerous. He was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer.

At the time, the cancer was “localized” to his colon and hadn’t spread to other parts of his body. His doctor explained what was following in his treatment journey, which included chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

“Instead of looking at all of the drugs, scans, tests, and procedures on my plate, I focused on a single goal, like my upcoming surgery, and simply getting through that,” Faratzis said while noting his state of mind.

Amid treatment, Faratzis had to use a colostomy bag, which is affixed on the outside of his stomach, to collect waste while he recovered from surgery. So far in his journey, Faratzis said the experience affected his mental health, calling it a “mindfuck.”

Then, more unsettling news emerged as imaging tests revealed the cancer had spread to Faratzis’ lungs and liver, making his cancer stage 4. He continued intense chemotherapy to get through his treatment.

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“I learned that, even if you have stage 4 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. 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,” Faratzis said.

Thankfully, Faratzis’ treatments have been working. He undergoes imaging scans every three months, and he says he’s had clear scans for the past year.

“It’s the longest stretch I’ve gone with no lesions, which is awesome. I feel good, I’m hopeful,” he said.

Now 34, Faratzis says after his experience with colon cancer, his advice for others – especially young people – is to “Listen to your body.”

“If you think there’s something wrong, it doesn’t hurt to get it checked out,” he said.

More on Colon Cancer Appearing More in Young People

The average age people are diagnosed with colon cancer is 68 for men and 72 for women, according to the American Cancer Society.

The National Cancer Institute reports that since the 1990s, colorectal cancer cases have been rising among adults younger than 50. Research published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians found that the proportion of cases in people younger than 55 “increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.”

WATCH: Debunking misconceptions about colon cancer.

“We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population,” cancer epidemiologist and lead study author Rebecca Siegel said.

Researchers are still trying to determine why younger people are being diagnosed in more significant numbers. Some experts point to risk factors, which include obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking, as a possible explanation for the increase.

“We don’t know for sure why we are seeing earlier onset and death from colon cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist who specializes in colorectal cancers at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet.

“It is likely a combination of factors, including diet and genetics as well as access to care and some environmental factors,” Dr. Yeo explains.

WATCH: How Doctors Look for Polyps.

Most colon cancers can be prevented if people are regularly screened. The screening usually involves a colonoscopy, in which a long, thin tube attached to a camera examines the colon and rectum. If no polyps are discovered, the following screening won’t be needed for ten years.

“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” Dr. Yeo told SurvivorNet. “Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem,” Yeo added.

The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a procedure doctors use to screen for colon cancer by looking inside your colon.

This procedure requires your colon to be “cleaned out. To clear out your colon, your doctor will prescribe a “bowel prep, which is a liquid you drink the night before the procedure. The prep acts as a laxative that causes you to have multiple loose stools before your procedure.

Once your colon is cleared out, the gastroenterologist performing the procedure can examine it in search of polyps, a small group of cells on the colon’s lining.

Depending on the size and number of polyps found, it is recommended that patients undergo a repeat colonoscopy within three to five years.

At-home stool tests are also available to screen for colon cancer. However, our experts warn that they are not as effective as colonoscopies.

A study published in 2014 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the Cologuard test, for example, missed more than 30% of polyps that will soon become cancer and 57% of polyps that may become cancer.

The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. Many colon cancers can be caught on colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.

What are Colon Polyps?

A colon polyp is a small group of cells that forms on the colon’s lining.

When you have a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist looks for polyps inside your intestine. Although polyps can’t be felt, screening tests can detect them before they cause a problem, such as colon or rectal (colorectal) cancer.

Almost all polyps found and removed during a colonoscopy are precancerous, meaning that they have not yet progressed to cancer.

Understanding the Signs of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer starts when polyps grow in the colon or rectum. If you don’t have these polyps removed, they can sometimes change into cancer. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts.

“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early, Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal cancer surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet.

The American Cancer Society and the American Gastrointestinal Association recommend that colorectal screening begin at age 45. However, you should discuss your screening timeline with your doctor.

Colon cancer symptoms and warning signs include:

• Change in bowel movement
• Bloody stool
• Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling the bowel does not empty completely
• Unexplained weight loss
• Constant abdominal pain or cramps

If you notice symptoms or changes in your body, it’s essential to discuss them with your doctor promptly.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask your doctor.

• What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
• If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
• What support services are available to me? To my family?
• Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
• What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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