James van der Beek reflects on how cancer affected his marriage and family

James van der Beek Reflects on his journey with colorectal cancer.

The Dawson’s Creek Alun marked its 48th birthday with one Instagram Video called “What cancer taught me.”

In the sincere clip, which was shared on Saturday, March 8, Van der Beek said to its followers: “It has been the most difficult year of my life.”

He continued with an anecdote and reminded how he “used to define myself as an actor” when he was younger, although “was never really so fulfilling.” The Varsity Blues Star said as he got older he began to define himself as “the ultimate” role: a “loving, capable, strong, supportive” husband, father, supplier and “steward of the land.”

While recognizing that these definitions left him satisfied for a while, he was forced to “see my own mortality in the past year.”

Van der Beek Shares six children – Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, Jeremiah, 2, with wife Kimberly (née brook)The As he married in August 2010.

“I had to get a nose to my nose with death,” the actor continued his diagnosis. “And all the definitions I cared so deeply if removed from me.”

Van der Beek shared that he “was gone for treatment”, so he could not help his family in the way he had before his diagnosis.

“I could no longer be a man who was helpful to my wife,” he explained. “I could no longer be a father who could pick up his children and put them in bed and be there for them. I couldn’t be a supplier because I didn’t work. I couldn’t even be a manager of the country because I was sometimes too weak to prune all the trees under the window you would crop them.”

He said he had to meet the question of who he really was like someone who lived with cancer. Colorectal cancer, per American Cancer SocietyStarts in the colon or rectum, which forms the large intestine in the digestive system.

After a trip with self -discovery and meditation, Van der Beek said that he realized: “I am worthy of God’s love, simply because I exist. And if I am worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own?”

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“And the same goes for you,” Van der Beek said when he acknowledged the prayers and support he has received since his diagnosis. He ended by telling the fans that their mantra can simply be, “” I am worthy of love. “Because you are.”

Van der beek first Shared news of his diagnosis In November 2024 and told people at that time: “I have colorectal cancer. I have been private to deal with this diagnosis and have taken steps to solve it with the support of my incredible family.”

“There is reason for optimism, and I feel good,” he added.