James Van Der Beek, 47, Reveals Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis: 'I Have Reasons to Be Optimistic and I'm Feeling Good' (Exclusive)

“I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately coping with this diagnosis and taking steps to address it, supported by my amazing family,” the 47-year-old actor shared exclusively with PEOPLE.

“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,” he added.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer originates in the colon or rectum, both of which are parts of the large intestine in the digestive system.

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Despite his diagnosis, Van Der Beek continues to work while managing his health. He recently guest-starred on an episode of Walker and will next appear in Sidelined: The QB and Me, a Tubi original film set to release on November 29.

Family time remains a priority for Van Der Beek, who shares six children—Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah—with his wife, Kimberly. In June, the family enjoyed a memorable trip to Egypt, where Van Der Beek shared photos on Instagram of their adventures, including camel rides and visits to the pyramids. He expressed his gratitude, saying, “With all my vocabulary, 'Wow' is what fell out of my mouth most of the time. We were gifted a magical experience, one I’m still processing - and might be for the rest of my life.”

Later this year, Van Der Beek will appear in The Real Full Monty, a two-hour special featuring male celebrities who will strip down to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer testing and research. Joining him will be Taye Diggs, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, and longtime Dancing with the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli. The event is inspired by the Oscar-nominated 1997 film The Full Monty and is executive produced by Anthony Anderson.

Taye Diggs reflected on the experience, saying, “Embarrassingly, I thought I was just doing Anthony Anderson a favor and supporting cancer. But then once we got there and really started to talk about these issues, everyone started opening up and we got to know each other on a different level.”

The Real Full Monty is scheduled to premiere on December 9.