James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
The former “Dawson’s Creek” star announced his diagnosis in an interview with People published on November 3.
“I have colorectal cancer. I have been dealing with this diagnosis in secret and have taken steps to resolve it, with the support of my wonderful family,” he said. “There is reason for optimism and I am feeling good.”
Today.com has reached out to representatives for James Van Der Beek but has not immediately heard back.
Colorectal cancer typically begins as small growths, called polyps, in the colon or rectum, according to the American Cancer Society. Colon and rectal cancers are often lumped together because they share similar symptoms.
James Van Der Beek has been married to Kimberly Van Der Beek since 2010. They have six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
On Nov. 3, Kimberly Van Der Beek tagged her husband in her Instagram story with a photo of two cardinals and a quote about romance.
For Halloween, James Van Der Beek posted a series of photos from Texas of their family, all dressed up for the holiday.
“I made all my own costumes growing up. I didn’t really have a choice. But I loved it. It probably should have been the first warning sign to my parents that I was going to be an actor,” he wrote in the Nov. 1 post.
James Van Der Beek wrote that his daughter was “devastated” when she realized her angel costume wouldn’t arrive in time for trick-or-treating, so she followed her dad’s lead and made her own halo.
“After she acknowledged the tears, she was given the project of making her own halo, which she spent HOURS on – wrapping yellow yarn around some garden wire. Focused in a way she may not have thought possible. And the look of pride on her face when she saw the finished project in the mirror was, for me… my favorite moment of Halloween,” he wrote of his daughter.