James Pickens Jr., a longtime star of “Grey’s Anatomy,” has shared his personal experience with prostate cancer to encourage men, especially Black men, to get screened with a PSA test. After the midseason finale aired on November 13, Pickens appeared in a public service announcement and emphasized that early detection saves lives. He explained that many men, particularly in the Black community, face higher risks of developing prostate cancer, which makes regular testing crucial.
Pickens Jr., who has played Dr. Richard Webber for 22 seasons, revealed that “one in eight men” will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and that early detection is vital, as symptoms often do not appear until the disease has progressed. He urged men with family history or who are Black to start talking to their doctors and get tested from the age of 40.
His decision to go public comes after he discussed his diagnosis privately with co-star Chandra Wilson on the show. Now, he is working with Black Health Matters to raise awareness about prevention and the importance of PSA tests. Pickens shared that prostate cancer runs in his family, but thanks to regular PSA screening starting at age 41, his cancer was caught early and treated quickly.
The PSA test measures the amount of a protein called prostate-specific antigen in the blood and can help detect cancer early. After Pickens received high PSA levels in a routine blood test, he was given a choice between radiation treatment and surgery. He opted for a robotic surgery to remove part of his prostate. Doctors found a rare variant of the disease, but because it was detected early, they could treat it aggressively and monitor his recovery closely.
Statistically, Black men are more likely to develop and die from prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation reports that one in six Black men will be diagnosed, and they are twice as likely to die from the disease compared to white men. Studies show that these disparities may be due to factors like mistrust of healthcare providers, economic challenges, and institutional racism.
The actor’s message is clear: regular PSA testing is critical to catching prostate cancer early, especially for those at higher risk.
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