James Van Der Beek Details "Hardest" Factor Amid Stage 3 Cancer Diagnosis

James Van Der Beek is getting used to the unknowns that accompany his cancer diagnosis.

The Dawson’s Creek alum, who’s been privately battling stage 3 colorectal cancer since 2023, opened up about navigating this difficult chapter.

“The trickiest thing is there are so many unknowns with cancer,” he told People in an interview published Nov. 8. “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."

The 47-year-old, who lives in Texas with his wife Kimberly, 42, and their six kids, Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel, 10, Emilia, 8, Gwen, 6, and Jeremiah, 3, noted that he’s relieved to be open about his diagnosis.

“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.”

Van Der Beek’s diagnosis came after he noticed a change in his bowel movements that didn’t go away.

“I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee,” he said. “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.’”

A colonoscopy showed that Van Der Beek had colorectal cancer, with the Varsity Blues actor noting that after the diagnosis, “I think I went into shock.”

Van Der Beek opted to not share what type of medical treatments he’s been using to combat his cancer, but did note that there have been a wide range of options he’s explored.

"This has been a crash course in the mastery of mind, body, and spirit," he said. "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.’”  

Keep reading to learn more about more stars’ cancer journeys.

The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.

"I had to have a lil bit o'cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied," the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. "(In the clear now!)"

The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. "After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me," she shared on Instagram. 

The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman "surgically cured."

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