James van der Beek reveals the first warning sign for colon cancer he ignored

James Van Der Beek revealed the first warning sign of his colon cancer – and it was the one who did not seem alarming at the time.

The actor of “Dawson’s Creek”, 48, who announced his diagnosis of colorectal cancer in November 2024, recently told Healthline that “there was no red flag or something blatant”.

“I was healthy. I was doing the cold dive,” he said. “I was in an incredible cardiovascular form, and I had stadium cancer 3, and I had no idea.”

Colorectal cancer diagnostics soar in young adults for a key reason

The only symptom he had experienced was a change in the stool, which the actor repressed with an effect of his coffee consumption.

“Before my diagnosis, I didn’t know much about colorectal cancer,” said Van der Beek. “I did not even know that the age of screening (had) fell at 45; I thought it was still 50.”

He finally suffered a colonoscopy, which revealed that the actor had stadium 3 colon cancer.

James Van Der Beek revealed the first warning sign of his colon cancer – and it was the one who did not seem alarming at the time. (Getty Images)

Professor Eitan Friedman, MD, PH.D., oncologist and founder of the Ergogenetics unit of the Ergogenetics of Suzanne Levy at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel, confirmed that changes in intestine habits are the main red flag that should support colorectal cancer.

Others include fatigue following anemia, blood in stool, weight loss, appetite loss and abdominal discomfort, Friedman, who has not treated Van Der Beek told Fox News Digital.

“I was in an incredible cardiovascular form, and I had stadium cancer 3, and I had no idea.”

DRE ERICA BARNELL, MD, PH.D., doctor -scientist at the Washington University School of Medicine – and co -founder and chief doctor of Geneoscopy – noted that Van der Beek’s experience to have no “blatant” sign is common.

Click here to obtain the Fox News app

“Many colorectal cancers develop silently, without obvious symptoms,” said Barnell, who has not treated the actor either to Fox News Digital. “As the symptoms appear, the disease can already be advanced.”

The actor of “Dawson’s Creek”, 48, who announced his diagnosis of colorectal cancer in November 2024, recently told Healthline that “there was no red flag or something blatant”. (Getty Images)

Symptoms are “particularly worrying” for the 45 years and over which have at least one parent in the first degree with colon cancer or other gastrointestinal malignant tumors, and those with active inflammatory disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, added Friedman, which is also a member of the advisory council of the board of directors of SPOTETARLY, Start-up that offers a home breathing test to detect early cancer signals.

Early detection is essential

The overall risk of an average risk person obtaining colorectal cancer during a lifetime is 4% to 5%, according to Friedman.

“It has been shown that the 45-year-old colonoscopy, at intervals of five to 10 years, leads to early detection of polyps which have the potential to become malignant and to allow their withdrawal as an effective means of minimizing the risk of malignant transformation,” he said.

Click here to register for our Health Newsletter

Unfortunately, Barnell noted: “Compliance with screening in the United States remains below national objectives, and gaps are the widest in rural, low-income and minority communities”.

To help fill these shortcomings, she called for better access to “precise and non -invasive screening technologies”, as well as efforts to increase public awareness.

“Coloscopy at 45, at intervals from five to 10 years old, has proven to lead to early detection of polyps which have the potential to become malignant and to allow their withdrawal as an effective means of minimizing the risk of malignant transformation,” said an expert. (istock)

“Most people don’t like to talk about intestinal habits, but pay attention to changes can save your life,” said Barnell. “Screening gives us the opportunity to find problems early – often before you feel sick – and that can make all the difference.”

For more health items, visit www.foxnews.com/health

Fox News Digital contacted the representative of Van der Beek to comment.