Actor James Van Der Beek died at the age of 48 on Wednesday, February 11. The “Dawson’s Creek” star died less than three years after revealing in August 2023 that he was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer.
In the closing years of his life, he was candid about his condition and provided admirers with frequent updates.
Colon cancer (also known as colorectal cancer because it frequently spreads to the rectum) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second highest cause of cancer-related deaths when men and women are combined, according to the American Cancer Society.
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It is one of the most preventable malignancies in the United States, although symptoms are typically overlooked.
In an August 2025 interview with USA TODAY, Van Der Beek emphasized the need of early detection.”To me, the most common misconception is that you must have symptoms to be screened,” he said. “I was very healthy, in amazing cardiovascular shape, and had full-blown Stage 3 cancer, and I didn’t know it.”
How common is colorectal cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute, colon and rectal cancers account for around 7.6% of all new cancer cases, with the American Cancer Society estimating 108,860 new cases of colon cancer in 2026.
Colorectal cancer is one of 17 types of cancer that are on the rise among Generation X and millennials, according to American Cancer Society data released in 2025. According to specialists, the specific explanation of the increase in malignancies among young people is unknown, but researchers are working to find it out.
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
The condition begins with the development of benign polyps in the large intestine, often known as the colon. These polyps can eventually become cancerous (malignant) and spread to other parts of the body.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a precancerous polyp takes ten years to develop into a cancerous polyp capable of causing symptoms. Symptoms may include the following:
Abdominal (belly) pain
Bloated stomach
Blood on or in your stool
Constipation or diarrhea
Feeling like there’s still poop in your bowels after you go to the restroom
Feeling exhausted or weak, regardless of how much sleep you get.
unexplained weight loss
These symptoms are similar to those of common disorders such as the stomach flu or food poisoning, but if they persist for more than a few days, you should consult a doctor.
Who is at risk for colon cancer?
While individual risk factors differ, the American Cancer Society estimates that the average lifetime risk of acquiring colorectal cancer is roughly one in 24 for men and one in 26 for women.
Factors that increase risk include being age 50 or older, having a family history of colon cancer, having many colon polyps (the more polyps in your colon, the greater the chance one or more may become cancerous), inheriting certain conditions (like Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis), being obese or overweight, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, according to Cleveland Clinic.
The good news is that when detected early, colon cancer is highly curable. Even better, it is usually preventable with regular screening and appropriate food and lifestyle choices.
Colon cancer prognosis and therapy
Over the last decade, the death rate from colorectal cancer in older persons has decreased by roughly 1.5% each year, because to breakthroughs in early identification and superior therapies, according to researchers. Since the mid-2000s, death rates among adults under the age of 55 have increased by around 1% each year.
Understanding how these factors contribute to colon cancer helps avoid it. However, more people can prevent the worst consequences of colon cancer by getting checked as early and frequently as suggested.
Van Der Beek told USA TODAY in August 2025 that he was passionate about spreading the message to get screened for colon cancer. “I am yelling from the rooftops: Get screened. Speak to your doctor.”
“I’m feeling good,” he explained at the time. “I have learned a lot. But if I can stop anyone from having to go through this ordeal, I will. I would still give colorectal cancer 0 stars.”
Contributing: Charles Trepany, David Oliver, Daryl Austin, USA TODAY.
This post originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Van Der Beek, 48, dies from colon cancer. What you should know about the condition
