At 47, James Van Der Beek Details First Cancer Symptoms
Actor James Van Der Beek, 47, revealed he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
“I’ve been dealing with this pretty much in secret for a while,” he said.
He detailed his symptoms and diagnosis.
In August of last year, James Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, he recently told People. Up until now, he and his family have processed it privately, but the actor, 47, feels it’s time to share his journey with the world.
“I’ve been dealing with this pretty much in secret for a while, and in the past, I’ve found it helpful and cathartic to share things publicly,” he said. “And I’ve found a lot of support that way. But more than that, I really wanted to raise awareness.”
The Dawson’s Creek star said he noticed symptoms when he began experiencing changes in his bowel movements. “I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee,” he recalled. “Or maybe not put cream in the coffee. But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out.’”
He underwent a colonoscopy, and upon waking from an anesthesia haze, his doctor confirmed that he had cancer. “I think I went into shock a little bit,” he said, and then, it was full speed ahead into scheduling appointments, tests, treatments, attending those, and repeating. “I was not prepared for how much of a full-time job it really is,” he added. (Van Der Beek has chosen to not yet disclose the specific treatments he has undergone, per People. But he did say that “if you’ve heard about it, I’ve probably touched on it.”)
Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon and/or rectum, per the American Cancer Society, and most cases start as a growth on the organs’ inner lining. One in five people with colorectal cancer are under 55, the society says, and the disease can spread to other parts of the body. Thankfully, Van Der Beek’s remained localized, which has a 91% five-year survival rate.
Still, the father of six was shocked to learn of his diagnosis because he had no family history of the disease and lived an active, healthy life. “I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles,” he said. “But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy—or as far as I knew it at the time.”
During the depths of treatment, there were moments when he was “really just laid out, laid low, and emotionally scraping the bottom of despair,” he explained. But now, he’s clinging to positivity. “I’m very cautiously optimistic. I’m in a place of healing, my energy levels are great,” he said. “When I’ve been out of the woods completely for what feels like a responsible amount of time, I’ll circle back and let you know.”
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