By Gavin Boyle
Actor James Van Der Beek shared that battling cancer feels like a full time job as he readjusts his life following a colon cancer diagnosis in 2023.
“[I am embracing] the beauty of just taking things a little bit more slowly and prioritizing rest and really allowing that to be the job,” Van Der Beek told Today.com. “I’m just on the journey…It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.”
The actor revealed his cancer diagnosis in November 2024, sharing that he was screened for the disease after noticing a change in his bowel health. Though he did not expect there to be anything wrong, he was informed he had stage 3 colon cancer.
“[I’ve] been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before,” he said in November. “I’m in a good place and feeling strong. It’s been quite the initiation, and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.”
Since then, he has become an advocate for people to get checked for cancer early and often, especially as the disease has become more commonplace, even among young people. At the same time, Van Der Beek has had to humble himself and turn from someone who cares for those around him to someone who receives the care.
“I’m someone who has always in the past tried to do everything for everybody and never asked for help myself and this has put me in a position of having to ask for help but having to receive help,” Van Der Beek said. “And the beautiful blessing of that has been seeing how many people in my life have shown up.”
Related: James Van Der Beek Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
Meanwhile, the actor continues with his career in the entertainment industry. Though the long hours can be taxing, it helps him forget his worries and enjoy life.
“The greatest thing about work is cancer doesn’t exist between action and cut,” he explained. “It was fun to drop in and just have a blast because it’s such a great cast, a great production, and everybody out there is really talented.”
Van Der Beek’s faith grown through his cancer journey as he had been forced to reckon with his mortality and realize that the only thing he can count on in life is God.
“I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist,” he said. “And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own? As I move through this healing portal toward recovery. I wanted to share that with you because that revelation that came to me was in no small part to all the prayers and the love that had been directed toward me.”
Though Van Der Beek’s journey is not an easy one, it is amazing to see how it has taught him new lessons that will serve him well and allow him to better love those around him. Please keep the actor in your prayers as he continues to fight this battle.
Read Next: James Van Der Beek Looks to Faith During ‘Hardest’ Year of Cancer
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