Disney Channel child star tearfully announces positive cancer screening following advice from James Van Der Beek to get checked
Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer which some readers may find distressing.
Christy Carlson Romano has revealed in an emotional health update that she may have 'stageable cancer' after seeking advice from James Van Der Beek before his death.
The 41-year-old, who rose to fame on Disney hits such as Even Stevens and Kim Possible, explained in a recent Instagram video how she and her husband, Brendan Rooney, had been to see doctors for preventative cancer screenings after both of her parents had been diagnosed with the disease.
While her husband's results came back clear, Christy tearfully stated her results suggested she may have cancer.
Advert
"I got the results back a little bit before filming down in Florida [last December]," the Disney alum explained. "Mine did not come back negative."
Christy added: "So basically what that means is, I may have stageable cancer."
The impact of Van Der Beek's death
The actor then went on to explain that she'd spoken to Van Der Beek prior to the Dawson's Creek star's death from colorectal cancer last week.
It was Van Der Beek's diagnosis that led to Christy going to the doctors to get checked out.
She continued in an emotional social media video: "I was able to meet James Van Der Beek a bunch. His family is amazing, he was a pillar of our community in Texas. They were always raising money for the most amazing charities and... he's not with us any more, which is why I got this test."
Van Der Beek died on February 11, aged 48, with his family announcing his passing on Instagram in a tribute in which they described him as 'a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend'.
The Rules of Attraction star went public with his cancer diagnosis in 2024 after receiving the devastating health news a year prior.
In an interview published a week after Van Der Beek shared his diagnosis, Van Der Beek told People he'd 'always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles'.
Actor encouraged more cancer screenings
However, he was later proven wrong when he was told he had cancer, despite leading a healthy lifestyle and being in 'amazing cardiovascular shape'.
After noticing a change in his bowel movements in the summer of 2023, the star initially put it down to his coffee consumption.
He added: "But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out'."
He had urged people to get a cancer screening if they noticed 'even just the slightest little change'.
Christy is set to undergo further tests in the weeks to come, including a positron emission tomography (PET) scan later this week.
The mother-of-two continued in the video on how she felt it was important to speak out, even if some people on social media may see the video as Christy 'overreacting'.
"I'm sure people think I'm overreacting, but I'm not because cancer's pretty f***ing serious and I have two little girls," she added.
Brendan - who tied the knot with Christy in 2013 after meeting in 2011 - took to the comments of the post to say: "You got this my beautiful wife. We will figure this out and destroy any problem that comes your way. I love you beyond words."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Callum Jones