And it also gave James a newfound appreciation for the little moments in his life.
"Presence is really the gift that cancer has given me," he reflected. "Before cancer, I took all these little beautiful moments as part of a collection. I was just aware of everything. Now, I'm able much more to just settle into that exact moment."
Among the most beautiful moments for James—who shares kids Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emillia, 9, Gwendolyn, 8, and Jeremiah, 4, with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek—was seeing his eldest pay homage to his career.
In fact, he previously shared how emotional it was to watch Olivia sing the Dawson's Creek theme song "I Don't Want to Wait" by Paula Cole at the series reunion in September.
Noting that Olivia was the "same age that Dawson was in the pilot," James wrote on Instagram, "To watch you stand there in that red dress, so confidently taking center stage amidst all those people I've known so long and cherish so deeply… I'm just left in awe."
Although the 48-year-old wasn't able to make it to the event in New York City—which included alums Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Busy Philipps—after contracting two stomach viruses, he did appear in a pre-recorded video.
Following the charity event, his wife, who was in attendance, thanked everyone involved in the sweet tribute to the teen drama.
"This night was so special to the whole family," Kimberly said on her Instagram Stories. "And more importantly, feeling my husband fill the entire theater, and the love for him."
As James continued to battle colorectal cancer, keep reading for more celebs who've spoken about their cancer journeys.
(E! News and Today are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
The All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.
Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.
“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges," he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. "You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”
The former Golden Bachelor star shared in Dec. 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.
"Unfortunately, there's no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn't want to admit to it.”
The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.
"I had to have a lil bit o'cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied," the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. "(In the clear now!)"
The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. "After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me," she shared on Instagram.
The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman "surgically cured."
The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman's rep told E! News that he's "all good" now.
In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, "If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen."
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.
Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
Alongside a pair of photos that show a line of stitches running from the bottom of his ear to his jaw, which he later covered with a bandage, the British celebrity chef shared that he underwent a procedure to treat skin cancer.
“Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast reactive work on removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma,” Gordon wrote on Instagram August 2025. “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend.”
“I promise you it’s not a face lift,” he added. “I’d need a refund…”
The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.
TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.
"MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! #wootothemotherf--kinhoo," the actress tweeted after receiving the good news.
The Up All Night star was declared "100-percent clear" of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.
The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.
The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.
The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a "minimally invasive" lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer "beat."
Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he's braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage
The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease when he was only 28. He's 50 now and looking good!
The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.
The America's Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.
The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.
The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.
The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.
The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.
The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.
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