“I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.” With these words, James Van Der Beek revealed to People magazine the serious illness he was facing.
The actor, best known for his role as Dawson in Dawson’s Creek, the teen series that shaped the lives of many young viewers worldwide between 1998 and 2003, wanted to share his story to raise awareness. “But we roll with it, taking each surprise as a signpost, pointing us toward a greater destiny than we would have discovered without divine intervention,” he said.
True to that mindset, he gave another interview where he shared the symptom he ignored for months: “There wasn’t any red flag or something glaring. I was healthy. I was doing the cold plunge. I was in amazing cardiovascular shape, and I had stage 3 cancer, and I had no idea,” he explained to Healthline. He also mentioned that before consulting a doctor for a colonoscopy, he noticed a change in bowel movements.
“Harder than I thought it would be”
The actor also admitted that, although he tried to face the situation alone, it’s very challenging: “Really find who your people are and reach out. You can’t do this alone. That was the biggest [challenge] for me because I never asked for help. And what I realized was just how many people were there to show up for me, how I’d been wronging them of the opportunity to show up because I try to do everything all the time.”
About colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the colon or rectum, parts of the large intestine that are part of the digestive system. Depending on where it starts, it can be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, but both share many characteristics and are often grouped under the term “colorectal.”
Most colorectal cancers start as polyps on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Some polyps, such as adenomas, can develop into cancer over time, though not all do. Cancer occurs when the body’s cells begin to grow uncontrollably. In colorectal cancer, these cells can invade the intestinal wall and spread to other parts of the body through blood or lymphatic vessels.
Factors that increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer include older age (over 50), personal or family history of colorectal cancer, the presence of adenomatous polyps, inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, diets high in red or processed meats, excessive alcohol and tobacco use, and sedentary lifestyle or obesity.
This type of cancer is highly preventable through screening tests like colonoscopy, which can detect and remove polyps before they become cancerous. Screening is recommended starting at age 45, or earlier if risk factors are present.
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