James Van Der Beek Faces Colorectal Cancer Battle

Actor James Van Der Beek, known for his roles in "Dawson's Creek" and "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23, " recently shared that he's been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He mentioned feeling optimistic and is relying on the support of his family. Colorectal cancer is quite common, ranking third in the United States. Each year, around 106, 590 people are diagnosed with colon cancer, and 46, 220 with rectal cancer.Van Der Beek initially wanted to share his health news in his own way. He planned to talk about it with People magazine to raise awareness. However, a tabloid rushed the announcement, forcing him to reveal it earlier than he wanted. He apologized to those who found out through People instead of him personally. Despite the diagnosis, Van Der Beek is continuing to work. He's set to participate in "The Real Full Monty" in December. This show features male celebrities stripping to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer testing and research. Other stars joining him include Taye Diggs and Dancing With the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli.