Mary-Margaret Humes secretly battled colon cancer in 2007

She told Us Weekly of her own diagnosis: "It was just about ready to break out of the wall. It could've been a terrible situation, but we caught it in time. My doctor said we dodged a bullet, and it was all because of early detection. Cancers are survivable, but go out and get screened - thankfully, that's part of James' journey."

The actress vividly remembers when James called her to reveal his sad news.

She added: "Since [then], we've had multiple conversations that are very uplifting and spiritual. He knows I've got his back 100 percent. He's going to get through this, and we're all coming together."

Mary-Margaret has remained in regular contact with most of the actors from Dawson's Creek and admitted she "fell into" a motherly role with the younger cast members right from the beginning of the drama.

She said: "Our ex ecutive producer Paul Stupin used to call me the 'den mother' because I was like the elder, with the exception of Mary Beth Peil [Grams].

"I did take the kids under my wing, but they didn't need much guidance. We all just fell into this. Everybody just gelled as a family and came together. There were no ego problems - there were tense moments behind the scenes from time to time, but that will remain a mystery!"

Her on-screen husband Wesley Shipp admitted it was a "special" place to work because they were "cocooned" in Wilmington, North Carolina, away from Hollywood.

He said: "We were cocooned from Hollywood in this southeastern coastal town.

"We were out of the glare of the bright lights, and it was a really special experience. Not that they would have engaged in any bad behaviour, our young cast was too smart for that."

The two cast elders even took their on-screen son to watch his first big movie, Varsity Blues, because his own parents couldn't make the trip to North Carolina.

Wesley, 70, said: "I remember when James signed his first autograph! It's just incredibly dear.

"Everyone was on the same level, regardless of experience, and even after they shot up to superstardom that surpassed mine and Mary-Margaret's, it was still the same dynamic, and I think that's testament to each and every one of those kids, now in their 40s."