The longtime actor says he is “living proof” that screening saves lives — especially for Black men facing higher risk.
“Grey’s Anatomy” veteran James Pickens Jr. is known to millions as Dr. Richard Webber — a character who spends his days saving lives. Now, the 73-year-old actor is sharing how early testing helped save his own
Pickens appeared in an Instagram video on Nov. 14, telling viewers he is “living proof” that early detection for prostate cancer “works.” His message accompanied a candid conversation with Black Health Matters, during which he explained why he has always taken annual checkups seriously.
Doctors told him the cancer was found unusually early. “It was rare enough that they wanted to make sure that they were crossing all the T’s and dotting all their I’s,” he said. “But they hadn’t seen one that was detected as early as mine.”
In an unexpected twist, Pickens’ diagnosis paralleled a storyline on “Grey’s Anatomy.” The show’s midseason finale — which aired Nov. 13 — revealed that his character, Webber, had also been diagnosed with cancer. Viewers will learn more when the series returns in January.
Pickens hopes that by speaking publicly, he can help break down long-standing fears that many men — especially Black men — have about medical testing.
“Where we are and how we view the medical community, especially as African American men,” he said, matters deeply. “We know the history of that…our trepidation about being tested, and getting something as simple as a physical.”
Pickens’ message remains simple and urgent: early detection saves lives.
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Source: Black Enterprise
