Enkyboys father and TikTok star Randy Gonzalez dies at 35 after being diagnosed with colon cancer

ALWIN, Texas. Randy Gonzalez, the Texan father of popular social media account Enkyboys, died Wednesday at the age of 35, his mother Beatriz Gonzalez and brother David Gonzalez confirmed to ABC News.

Gonzalez’s death came less than a year after he announced he had been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

Gonzalez and his son Bryce have become famous on TikTok for their funny comedy snippets and father-son dances.

“At first we were a little shy, but we broke out of that shell because people love Bryce so much and then they like the father-son duo, so we just thought, ‘Let’s go! Let’s do it!” Gonzalez told Good Morning America back in 2020 about the rise of the Enkyboys.

Last April, Gonzalez revealed in a video post that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in November 2021.

SINCE 2022: TikTok star diagnosed with colon cancer urges young people to know the warning signs

“I kept it to myself and I felt like it was selfish because I didn’t want to tell everyone about my case because it was private. But I feel like I can use my situation to give information to young people like me because I’m only 34 years old and they say it’s very rare for a young guy like me to get colon cancer,” Gonzalez said. in the video at the time, adding that a doctor told him his life expectancy was two to five years.

“I didn’t know how to take it. You know, it was devastating,” Gonzalez continued.

In the video, Gonzalez also spoke about one of his first symptoms, which led him to see a doctor.

“I want to help other people and encourage young people to get tested for colon cancer, get a colonoscopy. As I understood, I had problems with the upper abdomen, and I was always in pain, ”he said. said. “And luckily my wife advised me to get a colonoscopy because I was going to have an EGD. [esophagogastoduodenoscopy] through my throat because they thought it was an ulcer or something. In short, I wanted young people to be aware of colon cancer so they could get tested early in their 30s.”

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Since then, “Enkyboys” social media accounts have featured posts aimed at raising awareness of colon cancer, with Gonzalez sharing the symptoms he experienced, such as stomach pain and constipation, and taking fans with him as he passed. course of chemotherapy.

Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, is a type of cancer that arises from polyps in the colon or rectum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the US, it has become the second leading cause of death from cancer.

The disease can affect men and women of any race and ethnic origin. People at increased risk of developing colon cancer include people with a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer, as well as people with bowel conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Lifestyle can also play a role and increase a person’s risk, such as a high-fat, low-fiber diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and physical inactivity.

Last year, a major study found that more young people, including more non-Hispanics, blacks and Hispanics, and those aged 20 to 29, are being diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in recent years. , prompting physicians to call for earlier detection and screening of colon cancer in those under 50 years of age.

Who should be screened for colon cancer?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the CDC currently recommend that people ages 45 to 75 have regular colon cancer screening, and those over 75 should consult with their doctor before screening. If you are at increased risk due to a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer, or people with bowel disease, screening may begin before age 45, but this should be discussed with your doctor beforehand. Screening may consist of a stool test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, where a doctor inserts a tube into the rectum to check for polyps, colonoscopy, CT colonography, or virtual colonoscopy.

What are the symptoms of colon cancer?

According to the CDC, a person with colon cancer may not always have symptoms initially, and they can vary. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain, pain, or cramps
• Changes in bowel habits, including a feeling that the bowels are not emptying completely.
• Blood in the stool
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Unexplained weight loss

Gonzalez is survived by his wife Kimberly and three children, son Bryce and daughters Lauren and Nyla. Kimberly Gonzalez and her daughters also have their own TikTok and social media accounts called Enkygirls.