James Van Der Beek shares new details about his health, a month after publicly revealing he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.

On Tuesday, Van Der Beek spoke with “Good Morning America” ​​co-host Robin Roberts in his first live television interview since announcing his diagnosis.

“Physically I feel great. I feel really good emotionally. You know, that’s a lot,” the “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues” actor told Roberts a year and a half after his diagnosis. “It’s really a ride.”

Van Der Beek first publicly shared his diagnosis in November, writing on Instagram that he was “going into treatment and taking care of my overall health with greater focus than ever before.”

The 47-year-old actor, a father of six, has not shared any specific details about his diagnosis, which he first received in August 2023, or his treatment.

His decision to publicly announce his diagnosis quickly brought rising colon cancer rates among young people into the spotlight.

While cases of colorectal cancer have declined in adults over age 55 – thanks largely to cancer screening – cases in people under age 55 have increased over the past decade. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the second leading cause of death in women in the same age group.

In July, new data from the American Cancer Society showed that colorectal cancer is one of 17 cancers for which Generation X and Millennials are at higher risk than previous generations.

The death of 43-year-old actor Chadwick Boseman in 2020 due to colon cancer brought attention to the growing trend.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer—cancer that begins in the colon or rectum—is the fourth most common cancer in men and women and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

Van Der Beek said he hopes that by sharing his story he can raise awareness about colon cancer and the screenings that can help save lives.

Screening for colon cancer typically begins at age 45, according to the CDC, but there are other factors, including certain medical conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of colon cancer or polyps, that can lead to being screened for the disease earlier.

Regardless of age, anyone with symptoms should speak to their doctor. Symptoms are not always present but may include a change in bowel habits, bloody stools, diarrhea, constipation or unexplained weight loss, according to the CDC.

Regular screening for colorectal cancer should continue until age 75. The decision to undergo screening should then be made individually in consultation with your doctor.

On December 9th, Van Der Beek will be part of “The Real Full Monty,” a two-hour special featuring celebrities such as Anthony Anderson, Taye Diggs, Bruno Tonioli and others, all of whom have been diagnosed with cancer.

During the special, Anderson leads the all-male celebrity cast as they learn and rehearse a striptease dance, which they then perform in front of a live audience to raise awareness for prostate, testicular and colon cancer. The two-hour special airs December 9th at 8pm ET/PT on FOX and streams the next day on Hulu.

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