James Van Der Beek has been candid about his health ups and downs since announcing he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in November 2024. "Each year, approximately 2 billion people around the world receive this diagnosis. And I'm one of them," the Dawson's Creek alum shared in an Instagram post at the time, noting that he was "in a good place and feeling strong" while undergoing treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum and can be referred to as colon or rectal cancer depending on where the disease forms. Van Der Beek opened up further about his diagnosis in a November 2024 interview with People. "I've been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family," he told the outlet, noting that his cancer was already at stage 3. "There's reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good." James Van Der Beek Details Stage 3 Cancer Battle: 'Cautiously Optimistic' Van Der Beek shares six kids - Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3 - with his wife, Kimberly, whom he wed in 2010. Scroll down to see what else Van Der Beek has said about his cancer journey: Getting Diagnosed In a November 2024 video interview with People, Van Der Beek recalled undergoing a colonoscopy in the summer of 2023 after noticing some health changes. "As I was coming out of the haze, the gastroenterologist said in his most pleasant bedside manner, 'It is cancer,'" he shared. "And I think I went into shock a little bit." Van Der Beek compared having cancer to having a "full-time job," from scheduling appointments, keeping track of test results and dealing with insurance. Shortly after his colonoscopy, the actor learned his cancer was "localized" but it was stage 3. "I really didn't feel like this was gonna end me. I really felt like, 'This is gonna be the biggest life redirect. I'm gonna make changes that I never would have made otherwise that I'm gonna look back on in a year, five years, 30 years from now and say, 'Thank God that happened,'" he said. "And that's how I was about 90 percent of the time. And then, 10 percent of the time, I was a sobbing, terrified mess." Courtesy of James Van Der Beeks/Instagram Family First "My kids have been so supportive and so loving and so tender," Van Der Beek said in his November 2024 People video interview. "And you hate to watch them have to grow up in that way but you watch them really put you first, which, as a father, is, like, heartwarming and also devastating." Van Der Beek noted that although his kids are "scared" for his health, his diagnosis has also become "a real opportunity for connection, to be there with them and really dig in deep and ask them to express their thoughts, their fears [and] their concerns." He went on to joke, "I've asked every doctor I've had, 'What are the odds - and you be straight with me - that I can get my kids to stop calling it butt cancer?' And I will say, the prognosis is never good on that one." James Van Der Beek Speaks Out After Announcing His Cancer Diagnosis High Hopes In his People interview, Van Der Beek told the outlet he's "cautiously optimistic" about his cancer recovery. "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," he said. "I have a lot to live for." He also noted that his diagnosis gave him newfound body awareness. "If you've heard about it, I've probably touched on it," he stated. "This has been a crash course in the mastery of mind, body, and spirit. I thought, 'This is either going to take me out of the body, or it's going to teach me how to truly live in it.'" Courtesy of James Van Der Beeks/Instagram Partner in Crime While reflecting on his "tough year" in a November 2024 Instagram post, Van Der Beek gushed about the support he's received from Kimberly. "I'm more grateful than ever to my super human wife who has shown up on levels I never knew possible," he wrote alongside a sweet family photo. "Who has shown me what unconditional love is and the magic that comes from that. I am in awe of you, @vanderkimberly." That same month, Van Der Beek told People he could not "get through this" without his wife. "And as much as it sucked to be me in this past year ... there's not a moment that I would ever have wanted to trade with her and have it be her watching me go through that. She is extraordinary." Raising Funds Van Der Beek sold limited editions of his Varsity Blues jersey to raise funds for families dealing with cancer. "100% of my net proceeds will go to families recovering from the financial burden of cancer (including my own )," he captioned the since-deleted November 2024 Instagram post. James Van Der Beek's Wife Kimberly Sends Sweet Message After Cancer Reveal Spreading Awareness Van Der Beek was one of several stars who stripped down to raise money for cancer testing and research during Fox's December