'Grey's Anatomy' star James Pickens Jr. diagnosed with prostate cancer
What's the story
James Pickens Jr., the veteran Hollywood actor known for his role as Dr Richard Webber on Grey's Anatomy, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 73-year-old revealed this news during an interview with Black Health Matters, where he also shared that his family has a history of the disease. "It's not the kind of news anyone wants to hear...but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family," he said.
Early detection
Pickens Jr. was diagnosed after routine physical examination
Pickens Jr. explained that he was referred to a urologist after a routine physical examination, where his PSA levels were checked. "We caught it really early, and so they thought that would be the best route to take," he said about his decision to undergo a radical prostatectomy. "I do have a rare variant that you don't see very often. They wanted to err on the side of caution and keep an eye on it."
Family legacy
Pickens Jr.'s family history with prostate cancer
The actor shared that several members of his family have had prostate cancer. "My father had it. He had a lot of brothers; several of them had it," he said. "I would have been surprised if I hadn't gotten it." Despite the diagnosis, he revealed that, fortunately, no one in his family has succumbed to the disease so far.
Career highlight
Pickens Jr. reflects on his role in 'Grey's Anatomy'
Apart from his health news, Pickens Jr. also reflected on his long-standing role in Grey's Anatomy. He has been part of the show for all 22 seasons and considers it a blessing to play Dr. Webber for such a long time. "I've watched this character evolve over 22 seasons, his ups and downs, I'd like to think of him as being incredibly human through all this," he told The Hollywood Reporter.