James Van Der Beek's Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

American actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his iconic portrayal of Dawson Leery on the 1998 drama Dawson’s Creek, revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The 48-year-old actor shared on Instagram that he has been “dealing with this (his diagnosis) privately” and receiving treatment.

During an interview with People magazine, the actor shared that the first symptom he observed was changes in bowel movements. “I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee 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 recalled.

A colonoscopy subsequently revealed that he had stage 3 colorectal cancer. This left him in shock. He remarked "I'm very healthy. I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy as much as I could, as far as I knew at the time. Though I've since learned a lot about what actually eating healthy is."

Changes to bowel movements are just one of many commonly reported symptoms in colorectal cancer patients. Read more about the common symptoms of colorectal cancer here.

Van Der Beek noted that the hardest part of his diagnosis was dealing with the unknown. "You think, ‘How do I fix this? Is this healing me? Is this hurting me? Is this working? Is it coming back?’ As someone who likes answers, not knowing is one of the hardest things," he shared.

Despite this, Van Der Beek has also stated that he was feeling “very cautiously optimistic” and intends to channel his experience into advocacy and support for others. He shared, "I’m in a place of healing, my energy levels are great. 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. I have a lot to live for. 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. And I've found a lot of support that way. But more than that, I really wanted to raise awareness."

Colorectal cancer is significantly more treatable when caught early. The real experiences of patients offer important insights and lessons on the symptoms and warning signs.

Van Der Beek did not publicly disclose his treatment regimen. However, common treatment approaches for colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. "If you’ve heard about it, I’ve probably touched on it. This has been a crash course in the mastery of mind, body, and spirit. 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,’" he reflected.

Since his diagnosis, Van Der Beek has been actively involved in raising awareness and supporting those affected by colorectal cancer. He shares his experience with cancer on social media, often advocating for early detection and regular health screening. Additionally, he has also sold merchandise from his old films and shows to raise funds for cancer organisations.

Reflection on his cancer journey

On 8 March 2025, Van Der Beek shared an instagram reel captioned “What cancer taught me” for his 48th birthday. He shared about his struggles and the emotional burden that cancer had on him. "I had to come nose to nose with death, and all those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me," he reflected. "I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn't working."

Nonetheless, he had also recognized that he is "worthy of God's love, simply because I exist."

Return to acting

Even as Van Der Beek continued to prioritize his health and family, he has found his way back to acting amidst his battle with cancer. In May 2025, he announced his return to acting as a recurring guest star in an upcoming American comedy series Elle.

He shared, "The greatest thing about work is cancer doesn't exist between action and cut. It was fun to drop in and just have a blast because it's such a great cast, a great production, and everybody out there is really talented."