James Van Der Beek has shared his experience with cancer, delivering a crucial warning to his followers.
The actor, who took a break from public appearances, including missing a much-anticipated Dawson’s Creek reunion, has spoken out about how his life perspective has evolved after living with colon cancer for over two years. Speaking from his Texas ranch, Van Der Beek described the diagnosis as a pivotal moment that led him to reevaluate his life and priorities.
He noted that the hardest part wasn’t the physical aspect of the treatment, but rather envisioning the future for his family.
“It’s been the wildest, hardest journey I’ve ever had in this lifetime. It’s required more patience, more discipline, more strength than I knew I had, quite frankly. But there’s also been a lot of beauty in it,” he told NBC6.
This experience has led to significant changes in how the father of six approaches his daily life.
Van Der Beek mentioned that he has become more conscientious about his diet, realizing that understanding the modern food supply led him to question previously held beliefs about healthy habits. He also described a broader shift towards being more mindful and disciplined, both mentally and physically.
One of the most startling aspects of his journey was how easily the disease could have remained undetected. He chose to get screened after noticing subtle changes that didn’t seem urgent—changes many might overlook. This realization is what drives him to share his story publicly.
He told the TV station: “I think the biggest misconception is the same one I had, which is that you need to have something seriously wrong with you to get screened for colorectal cancer. You don’t. You can have no symptoms and still have cancer.”
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, yet it is often preventable with early detection.
Months prior, the One Tree Hill actor mentioned a subtle symptom he experienced before his diagnosis during an interview with Healthline.
“There wasn’t any red flag or something glaring,” he admitted. “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.”
One sign, however, was minor changes in his bowel movements.
According to the American Cancer Society, other symptoms of colorectal cancer include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and cramping or abdominal pain.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or use their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.