When a 28-year-old man was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer, it came as a shocking revelation. Now 34, Joe Faratzis reflects on the six warning signs of cancer he ignored, which ultimately led to his advanced diagnosis. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection and listening to your body.

Faratzis, a TMZ producer, admitted to ignoring early symptoms for months, attributing them to less serious health issues. His journey began in 2019, but it wasn’t until months of ignoring the symptoms that he finally sought a colonoscopy, uncovering the devastating truth. Now, Faratzis is urging others to take early screenings seriously and to pay attention to the warning signs of cancer.

One of the signs he overlooked was night sweats, which Dr. Cathy Eng of Vanderbilt University Medical Center notes can indicate advanced colon cancer. Faratzis experienced these night sweats but brushed them off as insignificant.

Another red flag was lower right abdominal pain. Healthline explains this can point to issues with the ascending colon, which Faratzis experienced but dismissed. Frequent trips to the bathroom also went unrecognized as a symptom, despite him going unusually often. His story highlights the importance of not ignoring these signs.