James Van Der Beek colon cancer battle: 'I dismissed key symptom... don't make the same mistake'
The actor, who lives in Texas, revealed in November that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2023, aged just 46.
In a fresh interview this week, the now 48-year-old said a change in his bowel movements, a common sign of the condition, was the first indication something was amiss.
Yet, he blamed it on coffee and cut out the hot drink to resolve the issue by itself.
It was only when the symptom persisted that he got a colonoscopy. Test results soon revealed it was stage three cancer, meaning the disease had spread to his lymph nodes.
The disturbing rise of colorectal cancer—also known as colon or bowel cancer—in under 50s has baffled doctors around the globe.
The disease—which also claimed the life of Dame Deborah James at the age of 40—has surged by 50 per cent this age-group over the past three decades.
Now, James is calling on people to recognise the little-known signs of the cancer and not to give up if they think something isn't right with their body.
He told Business Insider: 'It didn't feel like a real symptom of anything. It wasn't anything that made me rush off to go get screened.'
Prior to his diagnosis, he was invested in maintaining peak health, he added.
'I was doing everything, I was doing sauna, cold plunge, weightlifting, Pilates. I would dance and also do football training.'
He balanced strength training with cardio and ate mostly organic food, 'doing all the biohacking things' to stay fit, he added.
'It [the diagnosis] really took a while to set in. The reality still sets in stages, there are so many unknowns.'
But raising awareness of the condition has given him a sense of purpose throughout his ongoing treatment.
'I've learned a lot,' he added. 'If I can save anyone from having to go through this, that's magic.'
There are around 44,000 cases of bowel cancer every year in the UK and 142,000 in the US, making it the fourth most common cancer in both countries.
Symptoms often include changes in bowel movements such as consistent and new diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to poo more or less frequently and blood in the stool.
Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue are among other signs.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their GP for advice.
Although the vast majority of bowel cancer diagnoses affect those aged over 50, rates in older age-groups has either declined or held stable while diagnoses in younger adults have risen by 50 per cent over the last 30 years.
Cancer Research UK estimates that over half (54 per cent) of bowel cancer cases in the UK are preventable.
Doctors have suggested obesity, antibiotic over-use, mobile phone radiation and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water are potential triggers.
However a growing number of experts are also pointing ultra-processed foods as a cause.
Earlier this year James opened up again about his cancer journey as he marked his 48th birthday.
In a video posted on Instagram, he told his 1.6 million followers the last year, 'has been the hardest of my life'.
Labeling the clip 'What Cancer Taught Me,' he described how coming 'nose to nose with Death,' had helped him redefine who he is.
'When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never all that fulfilling, and then I became a husband and it was much better and then I became a father and that was the ultimate,' he said.
Being away from his family for treatment and living alone in an apartment had forced him to 'look my own mortality in the eye.'
'All of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me,' the dad of six also said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
New Jersey says 3 chemical makers agree to 'forever chemical' settlement worth up to $2 billion
DuPont and two other companies will pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims stemming from PFAS, commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals," the companies announced Monday. State Environmental Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the deal with DuPont, Chemours and Corteva is the largest such settlement in the state's history. It calls for the companies to pay $875 million over 25 years and create a remediation fund of up $1.2 billion. The companies will split the costs under the deal, which must still be approved by the courts. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the nation's air, water and soil. They are commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals.' DuPont said the settlement will resolve 'all pending environmental and other claims' for 'legacy" contamination claims at four sites where the companies operated in the state. It comes just months after the state said chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay up $450 million to resolve lawsuits over natural resource contamination stemming from PFAS. "Polluters who place profit above public well-being by releasing poisonous PFAS and other contamination in our State can expect to be held responsible to clean up their mess and fully compensate the State and its citizens for the precious natural resources they've damaged or destroyed," LaTourette said. PFAS were manufactured by companies such as 3M, Chemours and others because they were incredibly useful. They helped eggs slide across non-stick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped clothes withstand rain and keep people dry. The chemicals resist breaking down, though, meaning they linger in the environment. Environmental activists say PFAS makers knew about the health harms of PFAS long before they were made public. The same attributes that make the chemicals so valuable – resistance to breakdown – make them hazardous to people. PFAS accumulate in the body, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency set their limits for drinking water at 4 parts per trillion for two common types — PFOA and PFOS — that are phased out of manufacturing but still are present in the environment.
Reuters
13 minutes ago
- Reuters
Manhattan shooting renews focus on CTE and concussion risks in amateur sports
NEW YORK, Aug 4 (Reuters) - A deadly Manhattan office shooting by former high school football player Shane Tamura has renewed attention on how head injuries are managed in amateur football. Tamura, 27, fatally shot four people before killing himself, leaving a note blaming chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and the NFL for his actions. National Football League headquarters are in the Park Avenue building where the shooting occurred. Tamura, who played at a Los Angeles charter school, had not been diagnosed with CTE, which can only be confirmed post-mortem. New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner said it will conduct a neuropathological assessment during his autopsy, with results expected in a few weeks. But persistent questions about the effectiveness of strategies for tracking and managing repeated head trauma in young athletes are again facing scrutiny. Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the National Federation of State High School Associations that oversees high school football in the U.S., said her organization "does not know how many serious concussions are reported each year.' "Concussions occur among all age groups and in many activities, but are often not reported. Those at the scholastic level might involve reporting to a school nurse, athletic trainer, or coach," Niehoff said. Concussions are sometimes called "snowflake injuries" to reflect their unique and unpredictable nature. Monitoring student-athletes is difficult for organizations like the NFHS, since state associations have no oversight once students graduate. A 2023 Boston University CTE Center study that examined the brains of 152 youth, high school, and college athletes, most of them football players, who had died under age 30, found 41% showed signs of CTE. Suicide was the most common cause of death, but not all athletes with symptoms had CTE, the study found. There was no statistically significant difference in clinical symptoms between those with the brain disorder and those without. "They only played high school or college level and still had developed the changes of CTE," said Boston Center Director Ann McKee. "It's not well understood that kids playing amateur level sports are at risk. This isn't a disease only of pro athletes," she said, calling it a public health issue. "There's an urgent need to address it at the amateur level." According to NFHS data, about 30% of athletes with concussions may have symptoms lasting over four weeks. The NFHS has not labelled brain injuries in amateur sports a public health concern, in contrast to the Boston CTE Center. Protocols are in place to protect athletes suspected of incurring head injuries, requiring immediate removal from play at all levels. However, there are major differences between professional and amateur protocols. The NFL uses a five-step return-to-play process, including evaluation by an independent neurological consultant. Most high schools cannot afford independent neurologists, relying on athletic trainers, who may lack specialized concussion training, to assess injured players. Technology also plays a role in player safety. Professional teams use helmet impact sensors and analytics to monitor hits. High school programs rarely have access to such technology and rely on visual observation and self-reporting by athletes, who may feel pressure to keep playing. "We know that many changes have been made in sports to address potential head injuries," Niehoff said. "We also know that as we learned more about concussions, the number of reported concussions increased." Some individuals with CTE show increased aggression, but violence is not a universal symptom. Several ex-NFL players, including Jovan Belcher, Irv Cross, Conrad Dobler, Chris Henry, Vincent Jackson, Terry Long, Junior Seau, Demaryius Thomas and Frank Wycheck, were found to have CTE after their deaths. Some faced behavioral or mental health challenges such as dementia and depression following distinguished careers in the violent sport. Long, Seau, and Belcher died by suicide. Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend before taking his own life. Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was convicted of murder and died by suicide in prison at age 27. A posthumous examination revealed severe CTE. "Aggressive behaviour can be part of the syndrome, but it isn't universal and we don't know why some patients develop it and others don't," said Dr. Brent Masel, executive clinical professor of neurology at the University of Texas. "We can't explain where the problem lies in the brain. We're miles away from trying to figure that out," he said. "Just like with Alzheimer's disease, some become aggressive and some don't. Why that happens and whom it happens to, we don't know.' Progress in prevention and treatment has been slow. "We really haven't moved the needle much relative to the prevention of CTE... except we're a little better in treating the symptoms," said Masel. "Not every athlete with a history of contact sports who develops psychiatric issues is going to go on to develop this problem," he said. "The last thing you want is everybody in a panic that their child is going to end up doing something like that," Masel said. "So the most important thing is to reassure the public that the chances of their child ending up doing what Tamura did are slim."
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
New England Patriots DC Terrell Williams suffers major health scare as he collapses in practice
New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was carted out of practice on Monday after collapsing, according to multiple reports. Williams stepped away from the Patriots' rookie minicamp earlier this year after experiencing a health scare, which forced him to work remotely on doctor's orders. Yet just over a week after returning, the 51-year-old reportedly collapsed on the sideline during Monday's practice session. Boston reporter Pat Lane claims a stretcher was brought out, but he was able to get back to his feet and eventually leave the field on a cart. More to follow.
