Beloved Actor Ignored Cancer Symptom and It Nearly Cost Him His Life

James Van Der Beek is opening up about the first subtle warning sign that something was wrong — one he never imagined would lead to a stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis.

The 48-year-old Dawson’s Creek star, who went public with his cancer battle in November 2024, told Healthline that there was no dramatic moment or obvious red flag. “I was healthy. I was doing the cold plunge. I was in amazing cardiovascular shape, and I had stage 3 cancer, and I had no idea,” he said.

The only symptom he noticed? A change in his bowel movements — something he dismissed as a side effect of drinking too much coffee.

Van Der Beek admitted he wasn’t aware that the recommended age for colorectal cancer screenings had dropped from 50 to 45. It wasn’t until he had a colonoscopy that doctors discovered the cancer.

Medical experts say changes in bowel habits can be an early red flag for colon cancer, along with fatigue, blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and abdominal discomfort. The problem is that many cases develop quietly, without obvious symptoms, and by the time they appear, the disease may already be advanced.

Doctors stress that regular screenings save lives, especially for those over 45, people with a family history of colon cancer, or individuals with inflammatory bowel disease. Colonoscopies can detect and remove polyps before they turn cancerous, drastically cutting the risk.

“Most people don’t like talking about bowel habits,” said Dr. Erica Barnell, “but paying attention to changes can save your life. Screening gives us the chance to find problems early — often before you feel sick — and that can make all the difference.”