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.
