United Kingdom, Nov. 9 -- James Van Der Beek's family have been "so supportive" of him amid his cancer battle.

The 47-year-old actor has found strength in his wife, Kimberly, and their children - Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel, ten, Emilia, eight, Gwen, six, and Jeremiah, three - since he received his diagnosis.

Speaking about his wife, James told PEOPLE: "There's no way to get through this without her.

"As much as it sucked this past year, there's not a moment that I ever would have wanted to trade with her watching me go through this. To every caregiver out there, man, God bless you and thank you."

Although James' children have felt "scared" at times, they've also been hugely supportive of him.

The 'Dawson's Creek' star said: "The...