James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer and he's speaking up about his journey to raise awareness about the disease.
The actor, best known for his TV series "Dawson's Creek," opened up about his diagnosis in a recent interview with People. At just 46, Van Der Beek was found to have an advanced stage of the illness.
According to the World Health Organization, colorectal cancer--a type of cancer that affects the colon or rectum--mostly occurs in people 50 and above. It is also the third most common cancer in the world, accounting for 10% of all cases.
The now-47-year-old actor revealed that the diagnosis came as a shock because he had no family history of cancer and he had maintained a healthy lifestyle.
“I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy — or as far as I knew it at the time," the actor shared.
In the summer of 2023, the father of six noticed a difference in his bowel movement. Despite making diet changes to address the issue, he continued to suffer symptoms which pushed him to see a doctor.
Van Der Beek has since gone through a full range of treatments. He admits that through this health journey staying positive isn't always easy.
"This has been a crash course in the mastery of mind, body, and spirit," he added.
"I thought, ‘This is either going to take me out of the body, or it’s going to teach me how to truly live in it.’”
Despite his struggles, the "Varsity Blues" actor continues to work on new projects, including starring in a new film, "Sidelined: The QB and Me."
“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good," he added.
While a more common form of cancer, colorectal cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages, WHO noted. In the U.S., about 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer have been diagnosed this year, data from the American Cancer Society shows.
The number of cases has continued to drop since the 1980s, mainly because people are being better informed about health and getting screened. A cleaner, healthier lifestyle also reduces risk factors.
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