Actor James Van Der Beek, formerly of "Dawson's Creek, announced that he is battling colorectal cancer. The 47-year-old actor's diagnosis is part of a startling trend in rising colon cancer cases among young adults.

James Van Der Beek officially announced in an interview with People that he has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 47 years old. The Dawson’s Creek star shared that he has been “privately dealing with this diagnosis and has been taking steps to resolve it,

James Van Der Beek recently announced that he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer — but what does the disease entail? “Colorectal cancer is a cancer that arises in your colon or your rectum,” gastroenterologist Roshini Raj exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday,