James Van Der Beek, known for his role as Dawson Leery in the series “Dawson’s Creek,” recently announced his battle with colorectal cancer.

Last week, the 47-year-old actor shared this news, which was initially reported by People magazine. In his statement, he expressed optimism and hope for the future, emphasizing that he is receiving support from his family and actively taking steps to combat the disease.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, diagnosed in about 150,000 Americans annually. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, every 24th person in the world faces this disease during their lifetime.

CNN reported that after the news was announced, Van Der Beek posted a story on Instagram, which he later deleted, confirming his condition and stating that he is undergoing treatment, focusing all his attention on improving his health. He promised to provide more details in the future, explaining that he decided to write on Sunday after learning about a tabloid’s intention to publish the information.

In his message, Van Der Beek noted that the treatment process does not always go according to his plan, but he takes each unexpected event as a signpost toward a greater destiny.