Grey’s Anatomy Star James Pickens Jr. Opens Up About Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Early Warning Signs to Know

Times Now

Grey’s Anatomy star James Pickens Jr. opened up about his cancer diagnosis, highlighting the importance of early screening. Pickens, who has portrayed general surgeon Dr Richard Webber on the medical drama

for 22 seasons, revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. “One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime,” the 71-year-old actor said in a video. “For Black men, the risk is even higher. Fortunately, prostate cancer is highly treatable, but early detection is the key, and sometimes there are no noticeable symptoms,” Pickens added. Pickens highlighted the fact that, being a person of colour it becomes imperative to prioritise screening. “Today, I'm living proof that early detection works,” he added. “If you're Black, or if prostate cancer runs in your family, talk to your doctor about getting screened, starting at age 40.” He also said prostate cancer ran in his family, with his father and brothers also diagnosed with the same. Pickens Jr. also added that even though family members have had it, “no one, as far as I know, has succumbed to it.” Pickens began his preventive testing when he was 41, which may have helped in the early detection of the disease.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a small, walnut-shaped gland located below the bladder and in front of the rectum in males. This tiny gland secretes fluid that mixes with semen, keeping sperm healthy for conception and pregnancy. According to doctors, prostate cancer is a serious yet common disease. For every 100 men, 13 will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives. However, most people get diagnosed before it spreads beyond their prostate glands. Treatment at this stage often eliminates the cancer. What causes prostate cancer? While doctors are not sure what causes cells in your prostate to become cancer cells, as with cancer in general, prostate cancer forms when cells divide faster than usual. While normal cells eventually die, cancer cells do not, and instead, they begin to multiply and grow into a tumour. As the cells continue to multiply, parts of the tumor can break off and spread to other parts of your body. Luckily, prostate cancer usually grows slowly. Most tumors are diagnosed before the cancer has spread beyond your prostate. Prostate cancer is highly treatable at this stage. A few common risk factors include: