In an interview with PEOPLE for its newest cowl story, the Dawson’s Creek alum shared that he had a vasectomy a couple of years in the past, lengthy earlier than he obtained his colorectal most cancers analysis.

Van Der Beek and his spouse Kimberly share six children — Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel, 10, Emilia, 8, Gwen, 6, and Jeremiah, 3 — however the couple mentioned they did not plan on having an enormous household.

“Properly, we love having children, however we did not actually plan it out,” Kimberly, 42, mentioned. “It simply occurred. We had one deliberate youngster.”

“One! Out of six. One was 100% on goal. The one factor we actually sucked at was not getting pregnant,” added Van Der Beek, 47. “However thank God, actually, as a result of it is such a wrestle for individuals, and we actually do not take it without any consideration. I joke, and I snicker, however like, yeah, we actually simply form of received fortunate that means.”

The One Tree Hill alum mentioned that he and his spouse made the choice years in the past that they have been accomplished having youngsters.

“I figured the one means we will cease that is if we’ve got some medical intervention,” Van Der Beek joked.

Following his process, his youngest daughter, Gwen, had fairly a priceless response, which Van Der Beek shared throughout his interview.

“I mentioned hear, guys, Daddy has some surgical procedure on his non-public components, so simply be actually cautious if you run as much as me to not stumble upon something,” he recalled.

“And my youngest daughter seemed me straight within the eye and mentioned, ‘Daddy, I hope your vagina feels higher,’” he added of Gwen, with him and Kimberly laughing whereas remembering their daughter’s response.

“I used to be like, ‘Is she taking a shot at me?’” Van Der Beek mentioned, to which Kimberly replied, “Oh, it is a praise.”

The Varsity Blues star and his spouse have been by means of tough occasions earlier than, together with a number of being pregnant losses, which Van Der Beek has opened up about up to now.

“We have had 5 miscarriages,” Kimberly instructed PEOPLE. “Two of them have been late-term, near-death experiences. We have weathered plenty of storms collectively.”

“This has been a very tough 12 months, however there’s been this underlying means that we savor life otherwise,” she continued. “It appears like we perceive what actual true presence is, what savoring life appears like, discovering the sweetness in all of it.”

Van Der Beek turned emotional when he mentioned his spouse and household’s help throughout his most cancers battle.

“There’s no solution to get by means of this with out her,” he mentioned. “As a lot because it sucked this previous 12 months, there’s not a second that I ever would have needed to commerce along with her watching me undergo this. To each caregiver on the market, man, God bless you and thanks.”

Whereas Van Der Beek mentioned his youngsters are “scared” following their dad’s analysis, he famous that they’ve “been so supportive and loving and tender.”

In his unique cowl story with PEOPLE, Van Der Beek revealed his stage 3 colorectal most cancers analysis.

“I’ve colorectal most cancers. I have been privately coping with this analysis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the help of my unimaginable household,” he mentioned in an unique assertion, which was first shared final Sunday.

“There’s purpose for optimism, and I am feeling good,” he added.

Per the American Most cancers Society, Colorectal most cancers begins within the colon or the rectum, which make up the big gut within the digestive system.

Van Der Beek — who lives on a ranch in Texas together with his household — mentioned he is “cautiously optimistic” after receiving his analysis, and hopes to lift consciousness in regards to the illness.

“That is one of many causes I wish to discuss it and the purpose I am speaking about it so brazenly,” he instructed PEOPLE. “I have been coping with this gorgeous a lot in secret for some time, and up to now, I’ve discovered it useful and cathartic to share issues publicly.”

“And I’ve discovered plenty of help that means,” he added. “However greater than that, I actually needed to lift consciousness.”