Celebrity3 min(s) read
Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek blamed cancer symptom on coffee before tragic death
.webp_lli6Ty?tr=cr-74.9.445.380,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
James Van Der Beek opened up about a cancer symptom he'd originally dismissed as being caused by drinking coffee, before his death at the age of 48.
The Dawson's Creek star tragically died on February 11, 2026, less than three years after he was diagnosed with Stage III colorectal cancer.
The actor had been diagnosed in August 2023, but didn't go public with it until November 2024, revealing that he had been "privately dealing with this diagnosis and has been taking steps to resolve it" with the support of his family.
Speaking about his initial symptoms involving a change in bowel movements, Van Der Beek revealed he'd initially dismissed them as likely being caused by his diet and drinking coffee.
He explained to People at the time: "I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee, or maybe not put cream in the coffee.
"But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out.’”
He revealed that he underwent a colonoscopy to check what was going on, and was initially not too worried about the outcome.
The father of six explained: "I felt really good coming out of anesthesia, that I’d finally done it.
"Then the gastroenterologist said — in his most pleasant bedside manner — that it was cancer. I think I went into shock."
Van Der Beek chose to speak out about his health publicly in order to raise awareness of the increase in colorectal cancer in people under the age of 55, to urge anyone experiencing symptoms to get checked.
According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 5 new colorectal cancer diagnoses are among people under the age of 55, up from 1 in 10 in 1995.
He told the outlet that he hadn't suspected that would be the cause of his symptoms as he had no family history of cancer and was otherwise fit and healthy.
"I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles," he admitted. "But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy — or as far as I knew it at the time."
Tragically, despite undergoing treatment for the disease, Van Der Beek died in February 2026.
As with any cancer, the earlier it is detected, the better, so he campaigned to raise awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of the disease.
Bowel cancer risk rises if a person is over the age of 50 - but it can, and does, affect people younger, too - or if there is a family history of the disease.
Some genetic conditions such as Lynch syndrome, and long-term inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis can also increase the risk, as can a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.
Some of the common bowel cancer symptoms that should be checked by a doctor include:
- Blood in the stool
- Bleeding from the rectum
- A lump in the abdomen or rectum
- A feeling of needing to strain even after emptying the bowels
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pain in the stomach or rectum
- Tiredness or breathlessness
It is worth noting that these symptoms do not automatically mean you have cancer, but it is always important to see a doctor to rule out anything serious, or ensure prompt treatment.
Van Der Beek told Business Insider: "If I can save anyone from having to go through this, that’s magic."