James Van Der Beek Shared A Heartfelt Message On How Stage 3 Cancer Has Affected His Life

You know actor James Van Der Beek.

In a March 8 Instagram video, the Dawson's Creek actor reflected on his battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.

Back in November, James shared his diagnosis with People. "I have colorectal cancer. I've been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family," he said. "There's reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good."

Per the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer begins in the colon or the rectum. "These cancers can also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common."

The ACS includes that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.

Shortly after announcing his diagnosis, James revealed on Instagram that he had been forced to go public with the news earlier than expected because another media outlet planned to run the story regardless.

Months later, James provided an update on how the cancer has affected his marriage and family as he celebrated his 48th birthday.

James and his wife Kimberly share six children — Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3.

"Today's my birthday, and it has been the hardest year of my life," he said in the March 8 IG post. "I wanted to share something that I learned with y'all."

"When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never really all that fulfilling," he continued. "Then I became a husband, and that was much better. And then I became a father, and that was the ultimate."

"I could define myself then as a loving, capable, strong, supportive husband, father, provider, steward of the land that we're so lucky to live on," James added. "And for a long time, that felt like a really good definition to the question: 'Who am I? What am I?"'

James added this year he "had to look his own mortality in the eye," noting, "I had to come nose to nose with death. All of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped for me."

Being "away for treatment" affected his home life as a husband and a father of six because he "could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife."

"I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn't working. I couldn't even be a steward of the land because, at times, I was too weak to prune all the trees during the window that you're supposed to prune them."

"And so I was faced with the question: 'If I am just too skinny, weak guy alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I?' And I meditated and the answer came through. I am worthy of God's love simply because I exist. And if I'm worthy of God's love, shouldn't I also be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you."

"As I move through this human portal toward recovery, I wanted to share that with you because I think that revelation that came to me was due in small part to all the prayers and love that have been directed toward me."

"So, I offer that to you. However it sits in your conscience, however it resonates, run with it. And if the word God trips you up...you can take the word God out, and your mantra can be 'I am worthy of love.'"

"Because you are," James finished.

Wow, that really hit home.