James Van Der Beek's Cancer Diagnosis Was Especially Shocking for This Reason

He revealed the news of his diagnosis on November 3.

Like anyone who receives the news of a cancer diagnosis, James Van Der Beek couldn't help but be shocked at the news that he was sick. In the Dawson's Creek alum's interview with People, he revealed that he kept up his health and felt great after the diagnostic testing—which was why hearing the news of his colorectal cancer diagnosis came at such a shock.

“I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy—or as far as I knew it at the time," Van Der Beek told the outlet. “I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee. Or maybe not put cream in the coffee. But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out.’”

After a colonoscopy, the 47-year-old didn't think he would receive any bad news. “I felt really good coming out of anesthesia, that I’d finally done it,” he explained. “Then the gastroenterologist said—in his most pleasant bedside manner—that it was cancer. I think I went into shock.”

While Van Der Beek tries to keep a positive outlook about his cancer—which is in stage 3—he often struggles with the uncertainty that comes with it.

“The trickiest thing is there are so many unknowns with cancer,” he said. “You think, ‘How do I fix this? Is this healing me? Is this hurting me? Is this working? Is it coming back?’ As someone who likes answers, not knowing is one of the hardest things."

In the meantime, the actor is doing his best and is being “very cautiously optimistic." He added, "I’m in a place of healing, my energy levels are great. When I’ve been out of the woods completely for what feels like a responsible amount of time, I’ll circle back and let you know. I have a lot to live for."