Less than two months before his death from colorectal cancer at just 48, James Van Der Beek shared a message that now feels both urgent and heartbreaking: “You can have no symptoms and still have cancer.”

It was a simple sentence — but one that carries enormous weight.

His words underscore a sobering reality. Colorectal cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. In 2020 alone, an estimated 930,000 people lost their lives to the disease globally, and those numbers are expected to climb. In the United States, projections suggest approximately 55,230 deaths in 2026, making it the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women combined, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Behind every statistic is a story. In recent years, several high-profile losses have brought renewed attention to the disease. Chadwick Boseman, the beloved Black Panther star, died in 2020 at age 43 after a private battle with colorectal cancer. Now, Van Der Beek — who would have turned 49 on March 8 — has joined that devastating list.

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

“I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles,” he explained. “But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy — or as far as I knew it at the time.”

His diagnosis came after subtle symptoms in the summer of 2023. He noticed changes in his bowel movements but initially dismissed them.

“I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee,” he said. “Or maybe not put cream in the coffee. But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out.’”

A colonoscopy followed. He recalled feeling “really good” afterward, which made what came next even more surreal.

“Then the gastroenterologist said — in his most pleasant bedside manner — that it was cancer. I think I went into shock.”

Colorectal cancer can be especially dangerous because its early warning signs are often subtle — or absent altogether. According to the ACS, symptoms may include persistent abdominal discomfort, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, rectal bleeding, darker stools, or ongoing changes in bowel habits. Some people experience a lingering sense that the bowel has not fully emptied. But others experience nothing noticeable at all.

That’s what makes screening so critical.

Treatment often begins with surgery to remove the tumor, and depending on the stage and spread of the disease, may include chemotherapy or radiation therapy. As the Mayo Clinic notes, treatment plans are carefully tailored to each individual, factoring in stage, overall health, and patient preferences. Outcomes improve significantly when the disease is detected early.

Van Der Beek became increasingly vocal about this point.

In a December 20, 2025 interview with NBC 6, he stressed that his own decision to get screened did not stem from dramatic symptoms.

“You know, I got a colonoscopy because there are a couple of things that are happening, but nothing that made me rush to the doctor,” he said.

Screening is currently recommended beginning at age 45 in many regions — yet millions delay it, often believing they would “feel” if something were wrong.

“I think the biggest misconception is the same one I had,” he warned. “Which is that you need to have something seriously wrong with you to get screened for colorectal cancer. You don’t. You can have no symptoms and still have cancer.”

That realization fundamentally shifted his perspective.

“I’ve seen firsthand how it can save lives,” he said. “I’ve had people I know get screened, get it taken care of, and move on with their life, and not have to go through the journey that I’ve been on.”

For Van Der Beek, that journey came to an end on February 11.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” his family shared in a statement. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

In his final chapter, he chose to speak openly — not for sympathy, but for awareness.

If there is one message that stands above the grief, it is this: don’t wait for symptoms. Screening saves lives.

And sometimes, listening early makes all the difference.