The symptom he almost ignored

Van Der Beek had been candid about his health journey, determined to raise awareness about colorectal cancer, especially among younger adults who don’t think they’re at risk.

He revealed that the first warning sign was a subtle but persistent change in his bowel habits. At first, he brushed it off as something minor.

Speaking to People magazine, the Dawson’s Creek alum explained:

“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.’”

Even after undergoing a colonoscopy, he wasn’t overly concerned. He had no family history of the disease. He exercised regularly. He ate well. He felt strong.

Then came the news that changed everything.

”I felt really good coming out of anesthesia, that I’d finally done it,” he said, “Then the gastroenterologist said – in his most pleasant bedside manner – that it was cancer. I think I went into shock.”

The diagnosis: stage three colorectal cancer.

Van Der Beek later reflected on how his assumptions about cancer were completely upended.

”I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy – or as far as I knew it at the time.”

A growing crisis among younger adults

Colorectal cancer is no longer just a disease associated with older adults. In the U.S., roughly 150,000 people are diagnosed each year. Alarmingly, it has become the leading cause of cancer-related death for men and women under 50.

That’s part of why Van Der Beek chose to speak openly about his experience. He wanted others to pay attention to their bodies — especially when something feels “off.”

Doctors say the rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults is deeply concerning.

“We’re now starting to see more and more people in the 20-, 30- and 40-year-old range developing colon cancer. At the beginning of my career, nobody that age had colorectal cancer,” said John Marshall of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, who has treated cancer patients for more than three decades, while speaking with AP.

That shift “is shaking us all, to be blunt,” added Marshall, who also serves as medical consultant to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance

Early detection can dramatically improve survival rates. When caught in its earliest stage, survival odds are extremely high.

At any stage of life, several factors can raise the risk of colorectal cancer. These include carrying excess weight, not getting enough exercise, eating a diet heavy in red or processed meats and light on fruits and vegetables, smoking, drinking alcohol in large amounts, living with inflammatory bowel disease, or having a close relative who has had colorectal cancer.

Symptoms people shouldn’t ignore

Health organizations urge people to watch for:

• Changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, softer stool)
• Blood in stool (red or black)
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Ongoing abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue or shortness of breath (possible signs of anemia)
• A persistent feeling of needing to use the bathroom

Van Der Beek’s story is a powerful reminder that even those who appear outwardly healthy are not immune.

He leaves behind a grieving family, millions of fans, and a legacy that extends far beyond the screen — one marked not only by fame, but by vulnerability, advocacy, and grace in the face of something unimaginably difficult.