James Van Der Beek is ‘cautiously optimistic’ amid stage 3 colon cancer battle

James Van Der Beek is feeling “cautiously optimistic” amid his cancer battle. Penske Media via Getty Images

James Van Der Beek is staying positive while battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.

The “Dawson’s Creek” alum is “cautiously optimistic,” he told People in a cover story published Friday — but neglected to specify whether he is in remission.

“I’m in a place of healing, my energy levels are great,” the actor, 47, said. “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.”

The actor told People he “is in a place of healing.” vanderjames/Instagram “My energy levels are great,” he gushed. GC Images

The six-time father, who shares Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel,10, Emilia, 8, Gwen, 6, and Jeremiah, 3, with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek, noted that he “has a lot to live for.”

James revealed his diagnosis via Instagram over the weekend.

“I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before,” he told his followers on Sunday. “I’m in a good place and feeling strong.”

The 47-year-old did not specify where he is in his recovery journey. vanderjames/Instagram The “Dawson’s Creek” alum did say he has “a lot to live for.” Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

He concluded, “We roll with it, taking each surprise as a signpost, pointing us toward a greater destiny than we would have discovered without divine intervention.”

The “Varsity Blues” star detailed the moment he found out he was battling cancer after noticing bowel movement changes and getting a colonoscopy.

“I felt really good coming out of anesthesia, that I’d finally done it,” he recalled. “Then the gastroenterologist said — in his most pleasant bedside manner — that it was cancer. I think I went into shock.”

Van Der Beek is a six-time father. vanderjames/Instagram The “Varsity Blues” star shares his kids with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek. James Van Der Beek/Instagram

James called his health scare a “crash course in the mastery of mind, body, and spirit.”

The “Dancing With the Stars” alum explained, “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.’”

James called cancer’s “unknowns” the “trickiest” part of his journey.

He revealed his cancer diagnosis over the weekend. vanderjames/Instagram James is best known for his time on “Dawson’s Creek.” Courtesy Everett Collection

“You think, ‘How do I fix this? Is this healing me? Is this hurting me? Is this working? Is it coming back?’” he told the outlet. “As someone who likes answers, not knowing is one of the hardest things.”

While Kimberly, 42, has yet to issue a statement on her husband’s cancer, she left a supportive comment on his Instagram reveal.

“I love you baby,” she wrote.