• Former “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek has announced that he is battling colorectal cancer.
• The 47-year-old actor’s diagnosis is part of a surprising trend in increasing cases of colon cancer among young adults.
• In 2021, the recommended screening age was reduced from 50 to 45 due to the increasing number of early-onset colon cancer cases.
• Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, but it is also highly treatable if diagnosed early.

Television and film star James Van Der Beek announced that he is battling colorectal cancer.

The 47-year-old former “Dawson’s Creek” actor announced the diagnosis on his personal Instagram page and later confirmed it.People. Van Der Beek had been keeping the news private but was forced to come forward to prevent a tabloid newspaper from publishing it.

“Until now I have been taking special care of this, receiving treatment and monitoring my general health with more focus than ever before. “I’m in a good place and I feel strong.” Van Der Beek wrote in the article. “It’s been quite the beginning and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready,” he wrote.

Van Der Beek added that he hopes to be able to tell his story on his own terms and raise awareness about the disease.

“I hope that because of her story, others will re-evaluate some of the symptoms they are having and hopefully see a doctor for further investigation to make sure a diagnosis can be made sooner rather than later.” Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, The executive director of the Young Adult Cancers Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center told Healthline.

Number of individuals diagnosed with CRC between 1995 and 2019 Those under 55 have doubled. The number of CRC-related deaths in people under 50 has also increased by 1% annually since 2005.

“CRC has now become the leading cause of cancer death in men and women under 50. “This is a remarkable finding, and it certainly aligns with this trend.” Christina Annunziata, MD, PhD, senior vice president of Extramural Discovery Science at the American Cancer Society told Healthline, referring to Van Der Beek’s diagnosis.

according to American Cancer SocietyRisk factors associated with an increased incidence of colon cancer in young adults include excess body weight, processed meat consumption and smoking.

Colon cancer too more common in men than in women. Racial and ethnic factors are also important indicators of risk: Alaska Natives, American Indians, and Blacks have the highest cases of CRC.

“We don’t know exactly why this happened, but at the end of the day I can definitely say it’s multifactorial. When you see a young patient in your clinic with stage 4 disease that cannot be surgically removed and cured, the numbers are alarming and alarming,” Eng said.

Colorectal cancer affects the cells of the colon (large intestine) and rectum.

Van Der Beek, 47, was very close to this window. The actor did not offer any additional details about the diagnosis nor did he specify what treatment options he was pursuing.

Colorectal cancer often begins by: small growths known as polypsVarying in size and shape, from bumps and flat growths to mushroom-shaped growths.

Most polyps It may be benign, but some will eventually develop into cancer. Size and number of polyps polyps in the colon It may be an indicator of the possibility of the polyp turning into cancer.

It is not possible to say when Van Der Beek cancer developed without knowing its stage.

According to Eng, it takes an average of 5 to 10 years for a non-cancerous polyp to turn into cancer; This means polyps may be present as early as a person’s late 30s. “You can have polyps without showing any symptoms,” Eng said.

“Some of the early warning signs may include blood in the stool, abdominal pain and cramping, weight loss and fatigue.” Christopher Chen, MD, assistant professor of oncology and director of Early Drug Development at the Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford Medicine, told Healthline.

Rectal bleeding is the most obvious symptom of colorectal cancer and a doctor should be consulted.

Övünç Bardakçıoğlu, MD, FACS, People should not only be aware of these symptoms but also pay particular attention to their frequency and duration, the chief of colorectal surgery at the University of Las Vegas Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine tells Healthline.

Occasional abdominal pain is not unusual, but persistent cramps may require contacting a healthcare professional.

“In my practice, I have encountered patients who experienced these symptoms for a long period of time, up to a year, and I think it would be very important to have a full examination immediately, even in the young population in their 20s and 30s. Bardakçıoğlu said:

Former “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek was forced to publicly announce his colorectal cancer diagnosis in response to a tabloid planning to publish the news.

Van Der Beek’s diagnosis is part of a growing trend in colorectal cancer cases among young people. Since 1995, the number of people under the age of 55 diagnosed with early-onset colon cancer has doubled.

Colorectal cancer affects the cells of the colon (large intestine) and rectum. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

Colorectal signs and symptoms include rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, and persistent abdominal pain. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should contact a healthcare professional as soon as possible.