“Dawson's Creek” star needs money because of cancer diagnosis

Treatment too expensive?

Series star James Van Der Beek needs money because of cancer diagnosis

First the shock, now the fight: actor James Van Der Beek is fighting his cancer diagnosis. He obviously urgently needs money for this.

Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek has announced he is selling memorabilia to help cover the high cost of treatment for his recent colon cancer diagnosis. Van Der Beeck spoke about his illness on Instagram last week. Three weeks earlier he had made the diagnosis public in an interview with the US magazine “People”.

Now the actor from the US state of Connecticut shared photos on Instagram in which he is wearing a football jersey. “100 percent of my net proceeds go to families recovering from the financial burden of cancer (including my own),” he wrote. The signed jerseys feature the name of his character, quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, from the 1999 film “Varsity Blues.”

Unsigned jerseys cost $40, while signed jerseys go for $80. Earlier last month, Van Der Beek told People: “I have colon cancer. I have dealt with this diagnosis privately and have taken steps to overcome it with the support of my incredible family. There is reason for optimism, and I feel good.”

Van Der Beek became a series star in the late 1990s with his role as Dawson Leery in the US teen format “Dawson's Creek”. He also became known to a wide audience as FBI agent Elijah Mundo in “CSI: Cyber”. Most recently, he caused a stir as Matt Bromley in the first season of the FX drama “Pose.” Despite his diagnosis, the 47-year-old continues to be in front of the camera.

Van Der Beek's decision to sell memorabilia to afford cancer treatment highlights the extreme excesses of the American healthcare system. Many can barely afford medication, and while the health benefits system known popularly as Obama Care covers essentials, specialized cancer treatments can be hugely expensive.