James Van Der Beek mistook early cancer symptom for sign he was drinking too much coffee
Before being diagnosed with bowel cancer, the late James Van Der Beek believed his symptoms were down to how much coffee he was consuming.
On Wednesday (11 February), it was confirmed via a family statement that the Dawson’s Creek favourite, 48, had died.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” an Instagram post read.
“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.”
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The actor learned he had stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 46, speaking out in an attempt to ‘raise awareness’ of one of the most common types of cancer worldwide.
James Van Der Beek's cancer symptoms
In a November 2024 interview with People Magazine, the Varsity Blues star alleged that he thought changes in his bowel movements were due to his diet.
“I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee,” he admitted. “Or maybe not put cream in the coffee.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, or four cups of brewed coffee, is safe for most adults.
Drinking higher amounts of caffeine can cause prevalent gut issues, such as loose stools, diarrhoea, or chronic constipation - all three of which are associated with colorectal cancer.
Meanwhile, American coffee creamer is known to contain high amounts of saturated fat, calories, and added sugar, which can cause blood sugar spikes and increase the risk of heart disease.
The heavily processed products can also reduce the good bacteria in your gut, causing bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea.
Like Van Der Beek, it’s easy to chalk up changes in your bowel habits to your diet.
However, after cutting out coffee from his daily routine, the actor found that his symptoms didn’t actually improve.
“I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out,'" he said.
Eventually, he underwent a colonoscopy - a medical procedure used to examine the inside of the entire large bowel.
He admitted he felt ‘really good’ coming out of the anaesthesia afterwards.
“I’d finally done it,” he recalled. “Then the gastroenterologist said — in his most pleasant bedside manner — that it was cancer. I think I went into shock.”
Other symptoms associated with bowel cancer:
- Blood in your stool
- Peristent abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling fatigued
- Weakness
How many people are affected by bowel cancer
According to Cancer Research UK statistics, there are around 44,100 new bowel cancer cases in the UK every year, making it the 4th most common cancer.
The American Cancer Society stated earlier this year that colorectal cancer is likely to cause 55,230 deaths in 2026.
In the United States, it’s the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth-leading cause in women.
It’s advised that you seek medical help if you notice lasting symptoms or worrying changes in your bowel movements.
How to lower coffee consumption
If you’re worried that your daily coffee habits are affecting your gut, then there are some small changes you can implement.
These include drinking fewer or smaller cups of coffee or switching to decaf blends.
Registered dietitian Beth Czerwony has said that you should wean yourself off your lattes, rather than go cold turkey.
This is so that you can curb caffeine withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, and brain fog.
“By decreasing lower caffeine drinks, you will be able to curb your caffeine intake by slowly weaning and allowing your body to get used to the lower levels over time without having side effects,” she told the Cleveland Clinic.
The expert also advised drinking more water and set time limits on when you’re consuming your hot coffee.
“Setting a time limit is helpful to allow adequate time for the caffeine level to decrease and allow your body to relax and allow you to get to sleep,” she added.
However, if you're worried about any changes to your bowel movements, speak to your doctor.
Ella Scott