James Van Der Beek Shares Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer Battle, Family Support

Actor James Van Der Beek has been open about his ongoing journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer, diagnosed in August 2023 and publicly shared in November 2024. He emphasizes honesty with his six children about his condition, believing that children can sense when their parent is struggling and that transparency helps them support him emotionally. Van Der Beek describes managing cancer as a "full-time job," involving treatments, lifestyle changes like yoga and diet, and prioritizing rest, while continuing to work in Hollywood. He urges people to get screened for colon cancer early, noting that even without symptoms, early detection is critical and that screening guidelines recently lowered the recommended age to 45. Despite the challenges, Van Der Beek finds beauty in the support from his family and the resilience his children have shown, hoping his experience encourages others to take preventive health seriously. He remains optimistic and committed to his treatment and life changes, viewing the diagnosis as a significant life redirect rather than an endpoint.