James Van Der Beek Promises ‘I Feel Good’ Amid Cancer Treatment

James Van Der Beek had a positive health update for Dawson’s Creek fans during a Today show interview on December 19. The actor, who confirmed his diagnosis of stage-three colorectal cancer in November 2024, told interviewer Craig Melvin that “I feel much, much better than I did a couple months ago.” Three months ago, Van Der Beek had to skip a Dawson’s Creek reunion because of his health, explaining he was “hit with some stomach bugs,” but sent in a video where fans noticed how much weight he’d lost. “It’s been a longer journey than I ever thought it would be,” Van Der Beek told Melvin. “It’s required more of me — more patience, more discipline, more strength than I knew I had. I knew I was strong. I didn’t know I was this strong. But I feel good.”

Van Der Beek also shared the story of his diagnosis. He said nothing dramatic happened but something felt off, most notably the change in his bowel movements. “I had stage-three cancer and had no idea,” Van Der Beek said. He went to get a colonoscopy and woke up to the doctor telling him he had cancer. “I went into shock,” Van Der Beek added. “I really don’t think I knew what to do. Neither did my wife. And we drove home in silence. And part of me wanted to panic. Part of me wanted to just freak out. But then another part of my brain was like, You don’t know enough yet.” Now, he says the goal of his interview is to make sure men 45 and older schedule routine colonoscopies. “If anybody takes anything away from this interview,” he says, “it would be get tested.”