Understanding Colon Cancer
- Beloved actor and dad of six James Van Der Beek, who is battling stage 3 colon cancer, has been praised as a “wizard” who is “bouncing back” by his wife Kimberly, following the news that he’s selling signed “Varsity Blues”jerseys to help him pay for medical bills, as well as assist others battling the same disease.
- “Varsity Blues” is a 1999 film about a backup quarterback rising up to lead his high school football team, starring Van Der Beek as Jonathan “Mox” Moxon.
- Colorectal screenings are recommended to begin around age 45. However, people at increased risk—such as those with a family history of the disease—may want to screen sooner. Discussing your screening options with your doctor is recommended.
- Remember, facing adversity can feel overwhelming, but having a clear plan can make it more manageable. Setting goals and breaking them down into smaller, achievable steps is essential. Make sure set goals, make plans, and lean on your support system.
“By popular demand! My favorite jersey. Maybe it was all fun plays we got run in the football sequences for the away games… but I always loved putting on the varsity whites,” the dad of six and loving husband to film producer Kimberly Van Der Beek wrote alongside a video clip of himself promoting his signed jerseys for sale on his official autograph stores‘ website.
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Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 after his bowel issues prompted him to get checked, continued, “Last year when I released the Blues jersey, I was blown away by the love and support I received from all of you. It has meant more than I can ever express.
“I hope you enjoy this one as much as the original. For me, every jersey I sign is a magical full-circle moment.”
He concluded, “Thank you — for the love, the prayers, the support, and for making this jersey mean something far bigger than a movie.
Endlessly grateful for all of you.
“Proceeds go directly toward helping with treatment and supporting families walking the same path.”
Van Der Beek then noted that there are limited quantities available of these jerseys, before telling fans to click the link in his Instagram bio.
The 90s heartthrob, who is best known for his breakout role as Dawson Leery in the iconic teen drama TV series “Dawson’s Creek,” was ultimately praised by his wife in the comments of his post promoting the “Varsity Blues” jerseys.
Kimberly commented, “You’re a wizard. Bouncing back baby!!”
Fans were also quick to write up kind words for Van Der Beek, with one supporter commenting, “I’m rewatching Dawson’s Creek right now and was just thinking about this movie!
“You gave us some amazing 90’s memories. So glad you are well! Prayers!!”
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Another fan wrote, “The way this movie shaped me… and I’m not even a football girl. Sending you and your family love and light! Keep up the fight! You’re a warrior.”
“The fact that I am on the same journey you are, I will wear this jersey with pride,” commented a third fan.
A fourth fan said, “Love you man. I beat stage 3 colorectal with 6 months to live. 10 years ago. You will too.”
Van Der Beek’s post comes shortly after the TV star announced he’s planning to auction off some items from pivotal moments in his career—wardrobe, props and set pieces—to help him with medical bills.
It also comes after he celebrated his son Jeremiah’s 4th birthday and recently shared an adorable video of his son giggling, reminding fans that “laughter is the best medicine.”
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Writing alongside the wholesome clip, Van Der Beek wrote, “As someone who once played a Dr. on TV, I feel qualified to make this statement. Was about to attempt a splinterectomy on my 4 year-old when I realized my trusty readers (reserved almost exclusively for splinter removal) were broken.
“My annoyance quickly gave way to gratitude, however, when his attention shifted from the wood in his finger to how silly I looked. And I – never one to resist going for the laugh – rode it for all it was worth. And once he was able to stop shaking from the laughter, all went smoothly. I expect a full recovery. I keep getting reminders these last couple days to laugh more. Also: I think we should start spelling it: ‘Laffter.’ Who’s with me?”
Understanding Colon Cancer & Van Der Beek’s Diagnosis
James Van Der Beek learned he had colorectal cancer in 2023 after getting a colonoscopy done. He told People in his tell-all interview that his bowel issues led him to get checked.
“I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee. Or maybe not put cream in the coffee. But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out,’” he said.
Before Van Der Beek’s interview was published, the beloved actor wrote the following alongside an Instagram post, “‘It is cancer…’ Each year, approximately 2 billion people around the world receive this diagnosis. And I’m one of them. There’s no playbook for how announce these things, but I’d planned on talking about it at length with People magazine at some point soon… to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms. But that plan had to be altered early this morning when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news.
“I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before. I’m in a good place and feeling strong. It’s been quite the initiation, and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.
“Apologies to all the people in my life who I’d planned on telling myself. Nothing about this process has occurred on my preferred timeline… But we roll with it, taking each surprise as a signpost, pointing us toward a greater destiny than we would have discovered without divine intervention,” he continued. “Please know that my family and I deeply appreciate all the love and support.”
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Colorectal cancer happens when polyps are not removed and become cancerous. It can take up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become cancerous, according to SurvivorNet experts.
“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist who specializes in colorectal cancers at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet.
“Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem,” Dr. Yeo added.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, previously explained the colonoscopy procedure to SurvivorNet.
“When we see a polyp, we actually physically take the polyp out through the colonoscope,” he explained. “What does that mean? That means we basically put a wire through with a little bit of a flange at the end, and we pull the polyp out. Now, note there is no pain with that. Inside the colon, there are no pain fibers. So, there’s no pain.”
The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. Many colon cancers can be caught on colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.
Looking for Polyps During Colonoscopy
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends guidelines that state colon cancer screenings should begin at 45 years old. This is in response to the increase we see in colon cancer diagnoses in younger adults.
However, many insurance companies still do not cover the cost of screenings for those under 50. In the past, the disease had predominantly been found in adults 50 years or older, but for those predisposed to getting it at a younger age, these new guidelines could help catch it earlier.
Resilience Through Adversity
SurvivorNet specializes in covering the lives of people who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Often, seeing the positive helps them maintain their resilience.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, an oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, spoke to SurvivorNet about the role of a positive outlook on survival rates: “I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
Facing Cancer: How to Turn Stress into Strength
Meanwhile, resilience is an important trait, but not the easiest to build. When building resilience, the ultimate goal is not to avoid tough times, but to be able to bounce back from them. And yet, when they are faced with an overwhelming, life-changing situation, how do people shift their view? How do they learn to see the problem as temporary, rather than permanent, and figure out a solution?
It’s complicated, because building resilience is more about your mental and emotional fortitude than anything else. According to the American Psychological Association, “the resources and skills associated with more positive adaptation (i.e., greater resilience) can be cultivated and practiced.” In other words, resilience is not something you’re born with, which should be encouraging. Instead, after every challenge in your life, you build more and more resilience to those hard times.
Building resilience is down in the same way you build muscle, through patience and steady exercise of the skill.
Some lessons learned from other cancer warriors SurvivorNet has covered include being willing to learn, spending time with people who inspire you, allowing yourself to grieve, being flexible, and leaning in to your community for support.
Overcoming adversity can seem daunting. Many people think reciting upbeat mottos or pretending to be cheerful will help, but these solutions can make someone feel even more dejected than before. Instead, pay attention to the following steps to make meaningful change:
- Set a goal. No matter what the situation, create a new goal for yourself. If you have just been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, perhaps one goal would be to educate yourself about the disease and the possible treatments as much as possible.
- Make a plan. How will you achieve this goal? Your plan will help you focus on that goal. Dr. Siddhartha Ganguly refers to this determined, focused mindset as “the eye of the tiger,” which can help people dealing with health problems, such as lymphoma and other cancers. “You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers,” Dr. Ganguly, a cancer specialist at Houston Methodist, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
- Rely on others. Spend time with people who show you unconditional support and encouragement. They will alleviate your stress and help you remember that you’re not alone in this! Dr. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and author, previously told SurvivorNet that one “coping strategy that can be productive is reaching out and talking to others. Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.”
- Use positive self-talk. Leave messages with affirmations in places you frequent. Put notes around your mirror or the computer screen that say “You got this! or “Keep going!” Cut out inspirational quotes from people you admire and surround yourself with their words. Dr. Boardman explained to SurvivorNet that “Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions.”
If you’ve been through a difficult health challenge or any type of adversity throughout your live, Dr. Boardman told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview that one way to get your mental health back in check after a diagnosis is to try to play up your strengths.
“I sometimes will ask patients, tell me about yourself when you were at your best,” she explained. “Using that story, trying to figure out what strengths come to mind. Is it patience? Is it appreciation of beauty? It is perseverance? [Then we can] use those strengths in constructive ways to navigate their cancer journey.”
Dr. Boardman says another way to approach harnessing the strength you already have is by tapping into your values. This could be family, close friendships, spirituality, or commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Reminding yourself of what your values are and how you are living accordingly is another way to unleash that inner strength.
Lastly, patients shouldn’t underestimate the value of simply opening up, Dr. Boardman says. This could mean speaking to a close family member or friend, or it could mean seeking support in other ways by finding a therapist that meets your needs or looking into joining a support group.
Having negative feelings throughout your cancer journey is to be expected, however, doctors will tell you that people who find a way to work through the emotions and stay positive tend to have better outcomes.
“A positive attitude is really important,” says Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
“I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patients are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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