Six symptoms of bowel cancer as James Van Der Beek dies at 48

These are the red flags

The late actor James Van Der Beek was one of the many people diagnosed with the disease who initially dismissed the warning signs.

A lot of people believe the symptoms they are experiencing are down to minor ailments, digestive troubles or irritable bowel syndrome, delaying the diagnosis.

Van Der Beek, star of Dawson's Creek, first announced he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in November 2024.

He told PEOPLE magazine at the time that “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. 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'.”

The late actor, father of six, said that he had a colonoscopy to investigate his symptoms, which revealed that he had bowel cancer.

“I think I went into shock. 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”, he had revealed.

Van Der Beek “met his final days with courage, faith and grace”, his family said as they announced his death in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Cancer Research UK, over 17,000 people in the UK die from bowel cancer each year, while the American Cancer Society found that it is the leading cause of cancer death for men under 50, and the second for women.

Colorectal surgeon James Kinross revealed the six common symptoms of the disease which you should be aware of.

Speaking to the Mirror, the doctor advised that you should check in with your GP if you tick some of these boxes.

Change in your bowel habits

If you notice significant changes in your bowel habits, such as going more often for a number two, or having loose stools, you should let your doctor know.

It is worth getting it checked as it could save your life, even though it might be nothing.

Blood in stools

If you don’t suffer from haemorrhoids, then blood in your stool could be the result of cancer in the bowel.

According to Cancer Research UK, usually it “goes dark red or black” and can make your excrement “look like tar”.

Further investigation might be needed if you keep experiencing pain, cramps or discomfort in your abdomen for no apparent reason.

Pain in your abdomen

An obvious one, but if you keep experiencing pain, cramps or discomfort in your abdomen for no apparent reason, this might require further investigation.

This is a symptom of a host of common conditions, but it's best to get it checked out if you're also experiencing bloating on a regular basis.

Unexplained weight loss

If you notice that your clothes are suddenly too big and baggy, it could be because of bowel cancer.

You should book an appointment with your GP if you suddenly lose a lot of weight but haven't changed your diet or exercise regime.

Lumps

Another potential symptom of bowel cancer is finding an unusual lump in your stomach or rectum.

Make sure you keep an eye on their size and also make sure you report any accompanying pain to a health professional.

Extreme fatigue

If you feel tired and weak all of the time, you might want to book an appointment with your doctor.

This might be a signal that your body is battling against something you aren't aware of just yet, so it’s better if you are on the safe side.