The Tamesis
James Van Der Beek revealed that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
The “Dawson’s Creek” alum shared the news on Sunday, telling People magazine that despite the diagnosis, he has “reasons to be optimistic and I feel good.”
“I have colorectal cancer. With the support of my family, I have been dealing with this diagnosis privately and have been taking steps to address it,” Van Der Beek said in a statement.
The actor’s agent, Whitney Tancred, confirmed the diagnosis to CBS News.
The 47-year-old actor did not provide any other details about his diagnosis.
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP 
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum. Symptoms include blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, and fatigue.
Despite the diagnosis, Van Der Beek continues to work and will star in the upcoming Tubi movie “On the Sidelines: QB and Me,” which will be released on November 29.
The actor rose to fame playing Dawson Leary on “Dawson’s Creek” from 1998 to 2003. He is married to Kimberly Brooke and they have six children.
On Friday, he took to social media to share photos of himself celebrating Halloween with his family.
