A Las Vegas dad has opened up about the seemingly minor symptoms he ignored for years, never imagining they would lead to a diagnosis that changed his life.
For several years, Kenny Berbick, 41, exhibited a range of symptoms that began to mount up, but he always believed it must be “something minor.” Indeed, he told Newsweek that the problems began around a decade ago, when he first noticed blood in his stool.
The blood eventually went away, so Berbick, of Las Vegas, Nevada, did not feel overly concerned. That was, until the symptoms became significantly worse over the last two years, leading to a plethora of changes that he could no longer explain away.
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“Years ago, I was told the blood was probably hemorrhoids, and since the symptoms kept coming and going, I convinced myself it wasn’t anything serious,” Berbick said.
“Over the last two years, I began having stomach pain that would come and go. I had recurring stomach pain, excessive sweating, changes in my bowel habits, pencil-thin stools, loss of appetite, feeling full after eating very little, and significant weight loss,” he said.
Throughout his thirties, Berbick thought he was “too young” and healthy for the symptoms to be a sign of anything troubling.
‘Something Wasn’t Right’
Unfortunately, when his stomach pain became constant, there was no way he could ignore the signs. The problems were intermittent for years, but by 2025, Berbick was living in permanent discomfort. By that point, he asked his doctor for a CT scan, telling Newsweek that he “knew something wasn’t right.”
That request changed everything as Berbick was admitted to the hospital for a CT, bloodwork, a colonoscopy and additional imaging.
Berbick left the hospital and tried to resume normality until the results came back. When that day finally came, he was doing the school run when he received a devastating call from his doctor.
Berbick said: “I received a phone call while driving to pick up my daughter. My doctor asked me to pull over before telling me I had colon cancer and needed to go to the emergency room immediately because the tumor was so large it could obstruct my colon.”
The call left him overwhelmed and utterly terrified.
While he tried to remain optimistic about his chances, Berbick soon discovered that his cancer was stage four and spread to his liver. He was given a very poor prognosis initially, but instead of focusing on the statistics, Berbick remained resilient and wanted to keep fighting.
Colon cancer can lead to a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, cramps, tiredness or weight loss without explanation. Although, the Mayo Clinic suggests that many people with colon cancer do not exhibit symptoms at first, highlighting the importance of regular screening tests.
The American Cancer Society estimates that over 108,000 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026. It is the second most common cause of cancer deaths for men and women combined, with an estimated 55,000 deaths this year.
‘I’m Grateful for Every Day’
Following some initial holistic treatments, scans showed that the cancer was still growing and Berbick underwent chemotherapy. He has completed three chemotherapy treatments, however they had sadly stopped working. Now, he is participating in a clinical trial in the hopes of beating the odds.
Of course, some days are more grueling than others, but Berbick is thankful to still have his life and family.
He said: “Instead of focusing on numbers, I focus on making the most of every day and continuing to fight. My faith, my family, and hope keep me moving forward. I’m grateful for every day I wake up and I cherish every moment with my wife and children.
“I no longer take tomorrow for granted and I tell people I love them every chance I get. I spend more time with my family and don’t stress over the small things. If my story saves even one life, then every difficult day has been worth it.”
Being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 40 has completely shifted Berbick’s perspective, and now he urges others not to ignore any unusual symptoms.
Berbick documents his experience on social media (@eb.family on TikTok) to showcase the realities of living with colon cancer, common symptoms and how he is remaining hopeful throughout this journey.
“Please don’t ignore your symptoms, and if you’re 45 or older, get screened for colon cancer,” he said. “I also want people to know that there is still hope even with a stage four diagnosis, so don’t give up.”
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Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-Sang