At 28, Joe Faratzis learned that the symptoms he had brushed aside were hiding stage 4 cancer.

For months, he explained away changes in his body, until bleeding finally pushed him to seek help. Now, after grueling treatment and a year of clear scans, he is sharing six overlooked warning signs, and urging others to take persistent symptoms seri…

TMZ producer Joe Faratzis traced his first symptoms to 2019. They included night sweats, lower-right abdominal pain, more frequent bathroom visits, sharp cramps when bending over, constipation with cramping, and blood in his stool.

He initially attributed the bleeding to hemorrhoids, but a substantial amount eventually prompted medical attention. A colonoscopy revealed colorectal cancer. Looking back, he regrets waiting and hopes his experience encourages others to discuss unexplained changes with a healthcare professional.

Treatment included chemotherapy, surgery, and procedures targeting cancerous lesions in his liver and lungs. In 2023, Faratzis received his first clear CT scan; by April 2024, he celebrated a year of clear scans.

That milestone offered renewed hope after an exhausting ordeal.

His message is urgent, but these symptoms do not automatically mean cancer. Persistent bowel changes, abdominal discomfort, or rectal bleeding deserve medical evaluation regardless of age—not dismissal or a wait for routine screening eligibility.