Former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is opening up about the warning signs that led doctors to discover stage 4 colorectal cancer at just 38 years old.
Garcia revealed that what initially seemed like relatively minor stomach and bathroom problems eventually became impossible to ignore — especially to his wife, Masha.
“I had some sporadic stomach pain,” Garcia told Craig Melvin during a Sept. 14 appearance on Today. “I was going to the bathroom often. Just wasn’t ever fully emptied.”
Watch Stephen Garcia discuss his cancer diagnosis on Today
Garcia said the frequent trips to the bathroom became noticeable enough that his wife began questioning what was going on and pushed him to get medical attention.
That decision eventually led to a devastating diagnosis: stage 4 colorectal cancer.
“It was definitely a shock,” Garcia said. But rather than dwell on the diagnosis, the former Gamecocks quarterback said his immediate reaction was to focus on a treatment plan.
Garcia’s family says the diagnosis came after several days in the emergency room and a battery of testing, including CT scans and MRIs.
A GoFundMe launched on his behalf in May says doctors started Garcia on chemotherapy and planned consultations with liver and colon specialists as part of his treatment. The fundraiser has since brought in roughly $249,000 from about 1,800 donations.
Read the Garcia family’s fundraiser and treatment updates
Garcia has also been sharing his cancer journey publicly on social media, giving longtime football fans a look at the difficult months since his diagnosis.
His wife said that openness has been especially meaningful because many men are reluctant to discuss serious health problems.
“He’s brave being this open with his diagnosis,” Masha said during the Today interview.
Garcia credited her persistence with helping him take the symptoms seriously, saying she “probably did save my life.”
The former quarterback’s symptoms also line up with several warning signs identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC says colorectal cancer can cause changes in bowel habits, ongoing abdominal pain, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss and the feeling that the bowel does not completely empty. The agency also cautions that colorectal cancer can sometimes develop without noticeable symptoms.
Garcia’s age makes his story particularly striking.
Routine colorectal-cancer screening for adults at average risk generally begins at age 45, according to current federal recommendations. People with symptoms, however, should speak with a doctor regardless of age because testing used to investigate symptoms is different from routine screening.
Garcia was a familiar face to college football fans during his years at South Carolina, where he played quarterback for the Gamecocks from 2008 through 2011.
Now, more than a decade after leaving the field, he is facing a battle far different from anything he encountered in the SEC.
Garcia said the response from fans since he publicly revealed his diagnosis has been overwhelming.
“The fact that fans still care means a lot,” he said. “It means the world to me.”
His family has also used his diagnosis to encourage others not to dismiss persistent symptoms.
The fundraiser warns that colorectal cancer can be difficult to detect early and urges people to pay attention to their health and discuss appropriate testing with their doctors.
For Garcia, the message is especially personal.
What began with stomach discomfort and repeated trips to the bathroom ultimately uncovered stage 4 cancer — and he is now hoping that speaking publicly about those warning signs could push someone else to seek help sooner.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.