James Van Der Beek shared colorectal cancer warning sign months before his death

Prior to James Van Der Beek's decease astatine property 48, the histrion revealed the archetypal informing motion of his colon crab — and it’s 1 that did not look alarming astatine the time.

The "Dawson’s Creek" actor's wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, confirmed his passing successful a societal media station connected Wednesday.

Following the announcement of his colorectal crab diagnosis successful November 2024, Van Der Beek told Healthline successful August that "there wasn’t immoderate reddish emblem oregon thing glaring."

COLORECTAL CANCER NOW DEADLIEST TYPE FOR CERTAIN GROUP OF AMERICANS, STUDY FINDS

"I was healthy. I was doing the acold plunge," helium said. "I was successful astonishing cardiovascular shape, and I had signifier 3 cancer, and I had nary idea."

The 1 grounds that helium did acquisition was a alteration successful bowel movements, which the histrion chalked up to an effect of his java consumption.

Prior to James van der Beek's decease astatine property 48 connected Feb. 11, the histrion revealed the archetypal informing motion of his from colon cancer. (iStock)

"Before my diagnosis, I didn’t cognize overmuch astir colorectal cancer," Van Der Beek said. "I didn’t adjacent recognize the screening property [had] dropped to 45; I thought it was inactive 50."

He yet underwent a colonoscopy, which revealed that the histrion had signifier 3 colon cancer.

COLORECTAL CANCER MAY CAUSE THESE 4 HIDDEN WARNING SIGNS, EXPERTS SAY

Professor Eitan Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., an oncologist and laminitis of The Suzanne Levy-Gertner Oncogenetics Unit astatine the Sheba Medical Center successful Israel, confirmed that changes successful bowel habits are the superior reddish emblem that should rise the suspicion of colorectal cancer.

Others see fatigue (linked to anemia), humor successful stool, value loss, nonaccomplishment of appetite and abdominal discomfort, arsenic Friedman, who has not treated Van Der Beek, antecedently told Fox News Digital.

"I was successful astonishing cardiovascular shape, and I had signifier 3 cancer, and I had nary idea."

Dr. Erica Barnell, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist astatine Washington University School of Medicine — and co-founder and main aesculapian serviceman astatine Geneoscopy — noted that Van Der Beek’s acquisition of having nary "glaring" signs is common.

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"Many colorectal cancers make silently, without evident symptoms," Barnell, who besides did not dainty the actor, antecedently told Fox News Digital. "By the clip symptoms appear, the illness whitethorn already beryllium advanced."

The "Dawson’s Creek" actor, 48, who announced his colorectal crab diagnosis successful November 2024, antecedently told Healthline that initially, "there wasn’t immoderate reddish emblem oregon thing glaring." (Getty Images)

Symptoms are "especially worrisome" for those 45 and older who person astatine slightest 1 first-degree comparative with colon crab oregon different GI malignancies, and those with progressive inflammatory bowel disease, specified arsenic ulcerative colitis oregon Crohn’s disease, added Friedman, who is besides an advisory committee subordinate astatine SpotitEarly, a startup that offers an at-home enactment trial to observe early-stage crab signals.

Early detection is key

The wide accidental of an average-risk idiosyncratic getting colorectal crab implicit a beingness is 4% to 5%, according to Friedman.

"Colonoscopy astatine property 45 onwards, astatine five- to 10-year intervals, has been shown to pb to aboriginal detection of polyps that person the imaginable to go malignant, and to let for their removal arsenic an effectual means of minimizing the hazard of malignant transformation," helium said. 

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Unfortunately, Barnell noted, "screening compliance successful the U.S. remains beneath nationalist targets, and gaps are widest successful rural, low-income and number communities."

To assistance adjacent those gaps, she called for greater entree to "accurate, noninvasive screening technologies," on with efforts to summation nationalist awareness.

"Colonoscopy astatine property 45 onwards, astatine five- to 10-year intervals, has been shown to pb to aboriginal detection of polyps that person the imaginable to go malignant, and to let for their removal arsenic an effectual means of minimizing the hazard of malignant transformation," an adept said.  (iStock)

"Most radical don’t similar talking astir bowel habits, but paying attraction to changes tin prevention your life," Barnell said. "Screening gives america the accidental to find problems aboriginal — often earlier you consciousness sick — and that tin marque each the difference."

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Fox News Digital antecedently reached retired to Van Der Beek’s typical for comment.