Dawson's Creek alum James Van Der Beek had to issue a heartfelt apology after his friends found out about his gut-wrenching cancer diagnosis via the news.
The 47-year-old telly favourite dropped the bombshell on People magazine this Sunday (November 3), but later dashed to Instagram to express his regret that not all his pals heard it straight from the horse's mouth.
In his post, he penned: "I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialling 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."
READ MORE: Actor filmed explicit gay sex scene which was later cut from movie – and so was he
Click for more brilliant Daily Star showbiz stories
He added: "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."
Also, he gave a shout-out to his cheer squad, saying: "Please know that my family and I deeply appreciate all the love and support."
The dad-of-six told People he'd been tackling the beast quietly, thanking his family for their backing during the ordeal: "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.
"There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good."
Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine. The actor did not reveal the stage of his cancer or his treatment plan.
James rose to stardom as the charming Dawson Leery in the popular teen drama Dawson's Creek which aired from 1998 to 2003.
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
English (US) ·