The Daily Drink Doctors Link To The Cancer That Killed James Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek's tragic death at 48 has reignited urgent questions about what may be fueling the rise of aggressive colon cancer in younger adults.

As doctors examine possible risk factors, new research suggests that even a single daily sugary drink could be linked to late-stage disease, raising concerns about a habit millions consider harmless.

The death of James Van Der Beek at age 48 stunned fans and reignited urgent conversations about colorectal cancer in younger adults.

Once considered a disease primarily affecting older populations, colon cancer has been steadily rising among people under 50.

Since the 1990s, early-onset cases have surged by 50 percent, and projections suggest rates could double between 2010 and 2030.

Colorectal cancer now ranks as the fourth most common cancer in the United States and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths.

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 over 16,800 deaths each year.

Van Der Beek's passing followed a public two-year battle with the disease. His loved ones shared the heartbreaking news in an emotional Instagram statement.

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

He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.

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

A new study suggests that consuming at least one sugary soda or candy every day could be linked specifically to late-stage colon cancer, the hardest-to-treat form.

Dr. Emma Schatoff, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who led the research, described what doctors were seeing in younger patients.

"Young people were coming in with metastatic disease, or cancer that had spread everywhere – it was in their liver, lungs, other organs – and they were very surprised," she told the Daily Mail.

Her team examined numerous possible risk factors. She shared, "We looked at anything that could have raised their risk level. We looked at inflammatory bowel disease and medication use, but found no difference there."

The results surprised even the researchers. Dr. Schatoff said, "Then we looked at diet, and found no link with processed foods or red meat. But we did find a link with high sugar foods in stage four patients diagnosed with the disease for the first time."

Schatoff clarified what the researchers meant by high sugar intake. She said, "We defined a high sugar diet as daily consumption of high sugar foods, such as a [single] soda or a candy."

The study followed 303 colon cancer patients under 50 years old. Among them, 112 were diagnosed with stage four cancer, while 191 had stages one through three.

Each participant completed a detailed dietary questionnaire that asked, "Two to five years before diagnosis, how often did you have one serving of high sugar foods (eg soft drinks, candy)."

The differences were striking. Forty-five percent of stage four patients reported daily consumption of high sugar foods, compared with just 29 percent in patients whose cancers had not spread as aggressively.

The researchers concluded, "In a single-center study, in early-onset colon cancer patients, high sugar diets may be associated with de novo [new] metastatic disease."

The findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual conference in Chicago, attended by around 40,000 cancer specialists.

While the results have been published as an abstract and have not yet undergone peer review in a scientific journal, they have intensified debate about sugar's role in disease progression.

Scientists suspect that sugar may alter the gut microbiome, the complex ecosystem of bacteria living in the digestive tract. Excess sugar that is not fully absorbed can accumulate in the colon, potentially increasing inflammation and fueling tumor growth. Some research suggests sugar may act as direct fuel for cancer cells, accelerating their expansion.

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

What makes these findings especially concerning is how common sugary beverages are.

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

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

The stage four patients in the study were slightly younger on average, 41 years old, compared to 43 years old in the earlier-stage group. Just over 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.

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

As conversations continue following James Van Der Beek's death, doctors emphasize that research is ongoing and that no single factor determines cancer risk.

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

For families grappling with loss and patients confronting the disease, the message is sobering.

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

As awareness grows, researchers hope that uncovering these patterns will lead to earlier detection, better prevention strategies, and ultimately fewer stories like that of James Van Der Beek.