Dawson's Creek's James Van Der Beek diagnosed with cancer but says 'I'm feeling good'

Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek has confirmed he's been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and has been secretly coming to terms with the condition

Actor James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The 47-year-old Dawson's Creek icon is married to business consultant Kimberly Brook since 2010 and he is that father of their six children. On Sunday, he shared the shock news that he is fighting cancer and that he has been leaning on his family for support.

He said he has been "privately dealing" with the diagnosis and is taking precautionary steps to "resolve it". The actor - who made his screen debut in 1993 in an episode of Clarissa Explains It All - has shared his health news while also explaining he feels "optimistic" about beating the disease.

Speaking to People, the actor revealed: "I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family." Sharing his upbeat approach to his health, he added: “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good."

Colorectal cancer is a term for bowel cancer - which can form and grow in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum. The disease is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, but can be detected through bowel cancer screening and, if caught early, is one of the easiest forms of cancer to treat.

The NHS records symptoms to watch out for are changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you, blood in your poo which could look red or black, a sensation of needing to poo even if you've just been to the toilet - and other symptoms including tummy pain, bloating and unexpected weight loss.

In a recent social media post, James revealed that he and his wife had enjoyed trick or treating with their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah. Sharing posts of his family in Halloween outfits, he wrote: "I made all my own costumes growing up. Didn’t really have a choice. But I loved it. Should probably have been the first warning sign to my parents that I would end up an actor.

"But in a SPIRIT HALLOWEEN world… my six year-old was devastated that her angel costume would not arrive in time for trick-or-treating. After acknowledging the tears, she was given the project of making her own halo, which she worked on for HOURS - wrapping yellow yarn around some garden wire. Focused in a way might not have believed possible. And the look of pride on her face upon seeing the final project in the mirror was, for me… my favorite moment of Halloween."

While James has been acting on screen in film and TV shows since the early 1990s, he is still best known to many as the titular Dawson Leery of iconic teen drama Dawson's Creek. The show also launched the careers of Oscar nominee Michelle Williams, Batman actress Katie Holmes, and Canadian star Joshua Jackson.

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