James Van Der Beek Ignored Bowel Change That Led to Stage 3 Cancer Diagnosis
I’m Kai Montgomery, reluctantly sharing the fact that James Van Der Beek recently admitted a tiny shift in his bowel habits almost slipped under the radar before it turned into stage 3 colorectal cancer. Look, I don’t want to be the one to say it, but ignoring your own body when you’re 48 and half of America’s gut still runs on autopilot is a rookie move.
In a chat with Healthline, the Dawson’s Creek alum confessed “there wasn’t any red flag or something glaring” when he first noticed odd bowel movements. He chalked his pencil-thin stool and sudden bathroom shifts up to an excess of coffee and even toyed with ditching cream. As detailed by People Magazine last year, the change stuck around after he cut caffeine and dairy, so he finally scheduled a colonoscopy. The results? Stage 3 colorectal cancer, which he went public about in November with that trademarked Van Der Beek candor.
You might think colorectal cancer is an old-timers’ problem, but experts disagree. The American Cancer Society reports that early-onset cases have climbed steadily, with 20 percent of new diagnoses in 2019 affecting people under 55 – up from just 11 percent in 1995. Colorectal cancer now ranks as the third most common cancer in the U.S., following skin and breast cancers. The Colon Cancer Alliance adds that 82 percent of under-50 survivors were misdiagnosed at first and two-thirds saw multiple doctors before the correct diagnosis. Oh, and if you’re still clinging to the idea that screening starts at 50, think again: the guideline age fell to 45, and more people should know.
Here’s the bottom line: a tumor in your colon acts like a clogged pipe. Expect fluctuating constipation or diarrhea, pencil-thin stool, or even a weird sense that you haven’t fully emptied. Some patients spot blood or notice a sudden color and consistency change in their stools. Pair those signs with fatigue, anemia, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal cramps, and you have a recipe for a mystery your body is screaming at you to solve.
While colonoscopy remains the gold standard, Van Der Beek now promotes the Shield blood test from Guardant Health as a frontline ally. It’s FDA-approved, detected 83 percent of colorectal cancers in trials, and sidesteps all the prep horror stories. “People are three times more likely to adhere to advice when it’s just a blood test,” he told Healthline, noting that scheduling and compliance jump when you can skip time off work and invasive procedures.
His main takeaway is brutally simple: you don’t need dramatic symptoms to get screened. If you’re 45 or older, have any family history, or notice even the slightest shift in your routine, talk to your doctor about screening options. Early detection slashes your risk and saves you from regrets that no cup of coffee can wash away.
Don’t roll your eyes at your own health. Your gut won’t wait forever, and neither should you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Healthline, American Cancer Society, Colon Cancer Alliance, Food and Drug Administration, New York Post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
