Actor James Pickens Jr., known for his role as Dr. Richard Webber in the series “Grey’s Anatomy” where he’s been saving lives on the small screen for over 20 years, revealed that his own life was saved thanks to early detection of prostate cancer.
Actor James Pickens Jr., known for his role as Dr. Richard Webber. PHOTO: X/@GreysTvNews
The 71-year-old actor appeared in a video posted on Instagram on Friday where he said he was “living proof” that early detection “it works”.
In a discussion with the organization Black Health Matters, the actor explained that he always prioritized the annual medical check-up and emphasized that there is a history of prostate cancer in his family, reports CNN.
In 2024, his family doctor recommended he see a urologist after a blood test showed abnormal values. A subsequent biopsy confirmed the presence of a tumor, and fortunately, a PET-CT showed that the disease had not spread. The actor then underwent an operation to remove part of his prostate.
“It was such a rare form that the doctors wanted to make sure they checked everything very carefully. They had never seen a case diagnosed as early as mine.” said James Pickens Jr.
The news of his illness comes shortly after his character in the series “Grey’s Anatomy” had a similar story. In Thursday’s finale, Dr. Webber revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer, with no further details. The series returns with the second part of the season in January.
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men, according to the American Cancer Society, and the risk is even higher among black men, Pickens pointed out in his message, adding: “Early detection is key.”
The situation is alarming in our country as well. More and more Romanians under the age of 50 are diagnosed with aggressive forms of prostate cancer, according to data from the Bucharest Prostate Cancer Center. Although the average age of patients remains around 65 years, doctors draw attention to the alarming decrease in the age of onset of the disease and emphasize the importance of periodic check-ups.
