James Van Der Beek wanted to share his cancer diagnosis “on his own terms.”

Just hours after the “Dawson’s Creek” alum announced his colorectal cancer diagnosis In a statement released to People on Sunday, she took to Instagram to explain why the news had to come out sooner than she expected.

“There’s no playbook for how to get the word out, but I had planned to speak at length with People magazine about this issue recently to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms,” the actor said. I added subtitles to a video montage reel.

But the 47-year-old father of six had to switch gears “when he was notified that a tabloid newspaper was going to publish the story.”

“Until now I’ve been dealing with this privately, receiving treatment and monitoring my overall health with more focus than ever before,” he continued.

“I’m in a good place and feeling strong. It’s been quite the beginning and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.

Van Der Beek apologized to his loved ones and close friends who learned that he had cancer. people’s story.

“I apologize to all the people in my life that I planned to tell myself,” the “Varsity Blues” actor added.

“Nothing related to this process has occurred in my preferred timeline… But we press on, taking each surprise as a signpost, pointing us toward a greater destiny than we could ever discover without divine intervention.”

Van Der Beek later expressed her gratitude for the many messages she has received since going public with her colorectal cancer diagnosis.

“Please know that my family and I are deeply grateful for all the love and support shown,” he concluded. “More to come…”

Van Der Beek previously shared with People that he is “particularly concerned with this diagnosis and … is taking steps to resolve it.”

He also credited the “support of his incredible family.”

The actor married his wife Kimberly in 2010 and the couple has children named Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.

“There are reasons to be optimistic and I feel good,” he added.