James Van Der Beek bowel cancer diagnosis sees NHS expert share symptom warning

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James Van Der Beek, best known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery in the hit series Dawson's Creek, has sadly disclosed that he is battling bowel cancer.

The 47-year-old US made the announcement to People magazine on Sunday (November 3), confirming that he's been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

In his conversation with People, James Van Der Beek shared: "I've been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family. There's reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good. "

He has been finding solace and strength in spending quality time with his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.

Bowel cancer, sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer, originates in the large intestine which is comprised of the colon or rectum within the digestive system.

According to Cancer Research UK, it stands as one of the UKs most prevalent forms of cancer, with about 42,900 new cases reported annually.

As for its symptoms, NHS expert Anna turned to TikTok recently to educate people about the illness. Posting on Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust's TikTok account, she pointed out that one major symptom is bleeding from your bottom or finding blood in your poo.

The health expert highlighted a "persistent and unexplained change in your bowel habits" as a symptom to watch out for, along with unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness without clear reason, and a pain or lump in your abdomen. She urged: "If you have these symptoms, please go and see your GP."

The NHS website notes that risk factors for bowel cancer include being over 50, smoking, obesity, or having a family history of the disease. Other risks encompass having inflammatory bowel disease, bowel polyps, or genetic conditions such as Lynch Syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis.

As well as his interview with People, Van Der Beek discussed his condition on Instagram too, revealing he's undergoing treatment and is currently feeling robust and in a "good place".

Thanking his 1.5 million followers for their well wishes, he said: "Please know that my family and I deeply appreciate all the love and support."

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