James Van Der Beek shared colorectal cancer warning sign months before his death
Dr. Erica Barnell, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist at Washington University School of Medicine — and co-founder and chief medical officer at Geneoscopy — noted that Van Der Beek’s experience of having no “glaring” signs is common.
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“Many colorectal cancers develop silently, without obvious symptoms,” Barnell, who also did not treat the actor, previously told Fox News Digital. “By the time symptoms appear, the disease may already be advanced.”
The “Dawson’s Creek” actor, 48, who announced his colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024, previously told Healthline that initially, “there wasn’t any red flag or something glaring.” (Getty Images)
Symptoms are “especially worrisome” for those 45 and older who have at least one first-degree relative with colon cancer or other GI malignancies, and those with active inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, added Friedman, who is also an advisory board member at SpotitEarly, a startup that offers an at-home breath test to detect early-stage cancer signals.
Early detection is key
The overall chance of an average-risk person getting colorectal cancer over a lifetime is 4% to 5%, according to Friedman.
“Colonoscopy at age 45 onwards, at five- to 10-year intervals, has been shown to lead to early detection of polyps that have the potential to become malignant, and to allow for their removal as an effective means of minimizing the risk of malignant transformation,” he said.
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Unfortunately, Barnell noted, “screening compliance in the U.S. remains below national targets, and gaps are widest in rural, low-income and minority communities.”
To help close those gaps, she called for greater access to “accurate, noninvasive screening technologies,” along with efforts to increase public awareness.
“Colonoscopy at age 45 onwards, at five- to 10-year intervals, has been shown to lead to early detection of polyps that have the potential to become malignant, and to allow for their removal as an effective means of minimizing the risk of malignant transformation,” an expert said. (iStock)
“Most people don’t like talking about bowel habits, but paying attention to changes can save your life,” Barnell said. “Screening gives us the chance to find problems early — often before you feel sick — and that can make all the difference.”
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Fox News Digital previously reached out to Van Der Beek’s representative for comment.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/james-van-der-beek-shared-colorectal-cancer-warning-sign-months-before-his-death