The daily drink doctors link to the cancer that killed James van der Beek

James Van Der scare’s The tragic death at 48 has reignited urgent questions about what may be driving the rise in aggressive colon cancer in young adults.

As doctors examine potential risk factors, new research suggests that even a single sugary drink a day may be linked to late-stage disease, raising concerns about the habit that millions of people thought was harmless.

James van der Beek and the dangerous rise of colon cancer

James van der Beek’s death at the age of 48 shocked fans and reignited an urgent conversation about colorectal cancer in young adults.

Once considered a disease primarily affecting the elderly population, colon cancer is steadily increasing in people under the age of 50.

Since the 1990s, early-onset cases have increased by 50 percent, and estimates suggest rates may double between 2010 and 2030.

Colorectal cancer is now the fourth most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 154,270 Americans will be diagnosed this year, and 52,900 will die.

In the UK, more than 44,000 cases are diagnosed annually, with more than 16,800 deaths each year.

Van der Beek’s death followed a public two-year battle with the disease. Her loved ones shared the heartbreaking news in an emotional Instagram statement.

It read, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace. There is so much to share about his will, love for humanity and the sanctity of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we mourn our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”

He is survived by his wife Kimberly and six children.

What researchers found in the van der Beek era of cancer

Amid growing concern, researchers have zeroed in on dietary patterns that may affect advanced disease.

A new study suggests that consuming at least one sugary soda or candy every day may be linked to an especially high risk of late-stage colon cancer, which is difficult to treat.

Medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Emma Schatoff described what doctors were seeing in the younger patients.

“The young people had metastatic disease, or cancer that had spread everywhere — it was in their liver, lungs, other organs — and they were very surprised,” she said. Daily Mail.

His team examined several potential risk factors. He shared, “We looked at anything that might increase their risk level. We looked at inflammatory bowel disease and medication use, but there was no difference.”

The results surprised even the researchers. Dr. “Then we looked at diet, and found no association with processed foods or red meat. But we did find a link with a high-sugar diet in stage four, when the disease was first diagnosed,” Schatoff said.

Scatoff explained what researchers mean by high sugar intake. She said, ‘We defined high-sugar foods as high-sugar foods consumed on a daily basis [single] soda or candy.”

Sugar links behind the cancer that killed James van der Beek

The study followed 303 colon cancer patients under the age of 50. Of those, 112 were diagnosed with stage four cancer, while 191 were stage one to three.

Each participant completed a detailed dietary questionnaire that asked, “Two to five years before diagnosis, how often did you eat high-sugar foods (eg soft drinks, candy).”

The differences were striking. 45 percent of stage four patients reported daily consumption of high-sugar foods, compared with only 29 percent if the cancer had not spread aggressively.

The researchers concluded, “In a single-center study, in early-onset colon cancer patients, a high-sugar diet may be associated de novo. [new] Metastatic disease.”

About 40,000 oncologists attended the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

While the results have been published as abstracts and have not undergone peer review in a scientific journal, they have intensified the debate about the role of sugar in disease progression.

Scientists suspect that sugar can alter the gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of bacteria that inhabit the digestive tract. Excess sugar that is not fully absorbed can accumulate in the colon, potentially promoting inflammation and tumor growth. Some research suggests that sugar can act as direct fuel for cancer cells, speeding up their proliferation.

A separate study last year found that a diet high in sugar and low in fiber could promote the growth of Fusobacterium, a bacteria linked to inflammation and tumor development. Chronic inflammation can cause cells to age and increase the risk of cancer-causing mutations.

Why it matters to young adults after van der Beek’s death

What makes these findings particularly interesting is how common sugary drinks are.

According to the CDC, an estimated 63 percent of American adults report consuming at least one soda per day. For many, it’s just part of routine life.

Yet new research suggests that even one sugary drink or candy a day may be associated with more advanced disease at diagnosis.

Stage four patients in the study were slightly younger, on average, at 41 years, compared to 43 years older in the earlier stage group. More than half of the participants were women, and none had a prior cancer diagnosis.

The study found no association between colon cancer and consumption of red meat, processed foods, fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, or dairy products.

That absence of links makes the sugar-specific findings particularly striking.

A growing urgency due to the death of James van der Beek

As conversations continue after James van der Beek’s death, doctors stress that research is ongoing and that no single factor determines cancer risk.

Still, the potential link between daily sugar intake and advanced colon cancer adds another layer of urgency to understanding why more young adults are being diagnosed.

For families facing loss and patients facing illness, the message is dire.

What may once seem like a harmless indulgence may warrant closer scrutiny.

As awareness increases, researchers hope that uncovering these patterns will lead to earlier detection, better prevention strategies, and ultimately fewer stories like James van der Beek’s.