James Van Der Beek has revealed that he felt compelled to reveal his cancer diagnosis to the world before he had the chance to tell his own family.
The actor, 47, shared his news on Instagram over the weekend, but admitted that it was before he wanted to make it public.
James shared the announcement “on his own terms” and apologized to the “people in his life that he couldn’t tell in person first.”
He didn’t reveal what type of cancer he had been diagnosed with in his post, though he did tell People that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
He wrote: “It’s cancer…” Approximately 2 billion people around the world are diagnosed with the disease each year. And I am one of them,” he began.
“There is no script for how you go public with this stuff, but I was planning on speaking extensively with People Magazine about it soon… to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms,” he added.
James Van Der Beek has revealed that he felt compelled to go public with his cancer diagnosis before he had a chance to tell his own family
“But that plan had to change early this morning when I heard a tabloid was going to break the news,” the actor continued.
“I have been dealing with this privately up until now, undergoing treatment and monitoring my overall health better than ever,” he continued.
“I am in a good place and I feel strong. It has been quite an initiation and I will tell you more when I am ready,” he insisted.
“Apologies to all the people in my life that I wish I could have told myself. “Nothing about this process has happened on my desired timeline,” he added.
“But we will continue to do so and treat each surprise as a signpost, pointing us toward a greater destiny than we would have discovered without divine intervention,” he said.
Please know that my family and I truly appreciate all the love and support. More to come…,” he concluded.
The actor will be one of several celebrities appearing in Fox’s The Real Full Monty, a two-hour special in which celebrities strip naked to raise awareness for prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer screenings and research.
He will be joined by Taye Diggs, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Dancing With the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli.
“But that plan had to change early this morning when I heard that a tabloid was going to break the news,” the actor continued.
“So far I have been dealing with it privately, following treatment and managing my overall health better than ever before,” he continued.
The Van Der Beeks recently celebrated Halloween at their 90-acre ranch in Texas with their six children: daughter Olivia, 14; son Joshua, 12; daughter Annabel, 10; daughter Emilia, 8; daughter Gwendolyn, 6; and son Jeremiah, 3
While it’s unclear when he was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer, it certainly hasn’t slowed him down.
While it’s unclear when he was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer, it certainly hasn’t slowed him down.
He recently appeared in an episode of The CW’s Walker and will soon be seen in the Tubi film Sidelined: The QB and Me, premiering November 29.
Those projects were his first since 2021, when he provided the voice of Boris in the Disney animated series Vampirine.
The Van Der Beeks recently celebrated Halloween at their 90-acre ranch in Texas with their six children: daughter Olivia, 14; son Joshua, 12; daughter Annabel, 10; daughter Emilia, 8; daughter Gwendolyn, 6; and son Jeremiah, 3.
Earlier on Sunday, the Connecticut-born blonde confirmed to People , “I have colon cancer. I have been dealing with this diagnosis privately and have taken steps to resolve it, with the support of my wonderful family. There is reason for optimism and I am feeling great.”
It is unclear what stage James’ colorectal cancer is at, but the disease is thought to start in the colon or rectum in an average of one in 23 men, with 65 percent surviving the past five years.