New spotlight on colon cancer in wake of James Van Der Beek's death

FOX 2 - It's a cancer that highly curable if found early, but colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in our country.

Big picture view:

Actor James Van Der Beek was very candid about his colon cancer - and that's why his death wasn't completely unexpected. But dying in his 40s from colon cancer is a tragedy that doctors say can be prevented.

For many, he will always be Dawson, from the hit TV show "Dawson's Creek." But at the age of 48 the beloved actor died from colorectal cancer, less than three years after his diagnosis.

He said he noticed changes in bowel habits, and he figured he was drinking too much coffee. He was also in great shape — so he never thought he could have cancer.

The doctor says cancer symptoms are often dismissed.

"With younger people it is often not on their radar," he said. "Colon cancer was always an old-age cancer. But we are finding that that trend has flip-flopped. Younger people are dying at a higher rate of colon cancer."

Corewell Health colorectal surgeon Harry Wasvary performed Deena Centofanti's colonoscopy for a 2020 story and says we might blame diet or stress for changes. So how do we know when it could be something serious?

"The changes you have to look for is a change in bowel habits, weight loss that is unexpected, bloody stools, blood counts that are lower than anticipated. In the average risk person, you should be aware of that. 

"If you have a family history of colon cancer you have to be more in tune to those sorts of things."

Van Der Beek got a colonoscopy at 46 and got a stage 3 cancer diagnosis that he couldn't survive. So how do you make sure you're not wasting time?

"I think you really have to be in tune to your body," the doctor said. "If there is a change, seek out why there is a change. Most people, if they get a little bit of blood they shrug it off and think it is just hemorrhoids. But at least have a physician evaluate you. They'll probably tell you with 90 percent certainty it is just hemorrhoids, but make sure you see a professional if you see any changes — even at a young age."

What you can do:

Current guidelines say all adults ages 45-75 at average risk should get regular colorectal cancer screenings.

If you have family history, any symptoms, certain medical issues talk to your doctor about an earlier screening.