**James Van Der Beek’s Final Warning: “You Can Have No Symptoms and Still Have Cancer”

Less than two months before his death from colorectal cancer at just 48, James Van Der Beek shared a sobering truth:

“You can have no symptoms and still have cancer.”
Those words now stand as a powerful reminder of why early screening matters—regardless of age, fitness level, or how healthy someone feels.

His message reflects a much wider reality: colorectal cancer remains one of the world’s deadliest and most underestimated diseases. In 2020 alone, an estimated 930,000 people worldwide died from the disease. In the United States, it is projected to cause more than 55,000 deaths in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society.

Behind these statistics are real people and real families.

In 2020, Chadwick Boseman died at just 43. Now, Van Der Beek has joined the list of high-profile figures lost to the same illness—showing that cancer does not discriminate by age or fame. From “Minor Symptoms” to a Life-Changing Diagnosis

In a November 2024 interview with People, the star of Dawson’s Creek revealed that he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer at 46.

At the time, he never imagined he could be seriously ill.

“I’d always associated cancer with age and unhealthy lifestyles,” he said. “But I exercised, ate well, and felt strong.”

In the summer of 2023, he began noticing subtle changes in his bowel habits. At first, he dismissed them.

“I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee,” he explained. “When that didn’t help, I finally decided to get checked.”