“Grey’s Anatomy” Veteran Star Opens Up About Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

James Pickens Jr., the longtime “Grey’s Anatomy” actor, has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pickens, who plays Dr. Richard Webber on the hit medical drama, shared details about his diagnosis in an interview with Black Health Matters.

“It’s not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family,” he said. Pickens explained that his father and several uncles also had the disease.

“I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it.” Fortunately, he noted that none of his relatives had died from it. “I’ve got a 90-year-old first cousin, who’s still alive, actually; he had it. His son has it. A couple of his brothers had it. No one, as far as I know, has succumbed to it.”

Pickens’ cancer was detected after a routine PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test. His doctor then recommended an MRI, which showed something suspicious. A follow-up biopsy confirmed the presence of a tumor. The cancer had not spread, and it was removed promptly.

“We caught it really early, and so they thought that would be the best route to take,” Pickens said. He added that he has a rare variant of prostate cancer that doctors monitor carefully.

“They wanted to err on the side of caution and keep an eye on it. It was rare enough that they wanted to make sure that they were crossing all the T’s and dotting all their I’s. But they hadn’t seen one that was detected as early as mine.”

Pickens has appeared in all 22 seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy” and has also acted in shows like “The Conners,” “Roseanne,” and “The X-Files.”

It’s encouraging to see Pickens catching the cancer early and taking the necessary steps to treat it. Prostate cancer is often manageable when detected in time, and his openness may inspire fans to prioritize regular check-ups.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!