Randy Gonzalez, the father in the popular TikTok duoEnkyboys, has died following a battle with colon cancer. He was 35.
The star died Wednesday morning in hospice,TMZfirst reported. His brother later confirmed the news onInstagram, writing, “My brother may you Rest In Peace I love you always and forever.”
Randy became a viral star on TikTok alongside his 6-year-old son Brice Gonzalez. The two were known for their funny lip-syncing videos and sweet family dynamic before Bricelanded a roleon the NBC sitcomLopez vs. LopezwithGeorge Lopez.
On Thursday, Lopez sent his condolences to Randy’s loved ones onInstagram, writing, “My sincerest condolences to Brice and the entire Gonzalez family. The love and the bond Randy had for his son and his family was undeniable, you can see it in every video.”
“He will be missed, but never forgotten,” the actor said. “My heart goes out to the entire family. Dios te bendiga 🙏🏽🕊.”
Randy Gonzalez/Instagram
Randy first revealed in April 2022 that he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer six months prior, telling fans on social media that he was given 2-3 years to live, with the possibility of 5 years with chemotherapy.
In hisfinal TikToklast month, the father spoke about his difficult journey with treatment, sharing that he was “doing good” but his chemotherapy was “not working.”
Randy previously told followers that treatment had been “horrible,” but he was up for the fight.
“Cancer sucks, it sucks the life out of you. It makes you feel like you have nothing to live for when in reality, you do. It sucks, but you have to fight,” hesaidback in November. “You have to be strong to fight cancer and beat it. I want to be a testimony of this in another year or so when I’m still alive and I beat it.”
Colon, or colorectal, cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, after lung and breast cancers.
Randy Gonzalez was diagnosed with colon cancer when he turned 34 — well before the recommended age for screenings. His death was a reminder of howcolon cancer is on the rise in young people. Most notably,Chadwick Bosemanwas diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016, when he turned 40 years old, before hisdeathin 2020 at 43.
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While approximately 90% of colon cancer cases occur in people over the age of 50, since the mid-90s, the number of new cases has been increasing among adults under 50 years old, according toFight CRC— a national colorectal cancer advocacy organization that raises awareness about the importance of early detection through screening.
But people with colon cancer fare better when the disease is caught and treated early, before it spreads outside the large intestine or rectum.
Researchers aren’t yet sure why adults are developing colon cancer at younger ages. Around 25% of patients have a family history of the cancer, and doctors are urging everyone to check into their backgrounds to see if they are at a higher risk. But diet, and its contributions to obesity, may be a cause.
However, they emphasizethe need for preemptive screenings, as these symptoms typically only appear after colon cancer has already spread.
source: people.com
