‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star James Pickens Jr., 73, Explains How Sharing His Prostate Cancer Journey Went ‘Well Beyond What He Expected’ As Calls Poured In Claiming, ‘Man, You Saved My Life’
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star James Pickens Jr., 73, Explains How Sharing His Prostate Cancer Journey Went ‘Well Beyond What He Expected’ As Calls Poured In Claiming, ‘Man, You Saved My Life’
“Grey’s Anatomy” star James Pickens Jr., 71, was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer during a routine checkup—thanks to decades of proactive screening rooted in his family’s history with the disease.
Pickens began prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing – which screens for signs of prostate cancer – in his early 40s, knowing his father and uncles had faced prostate cancer; his vigilance allowed doctors to catch a rare variant before symptoms appeared.
He opted for robotic radical prostatectomy, a minimally invasive surgery that offers precision and potential benefits for continence and nerve preservation in localized prostate cancer cases.
“The robot has really revolutionized our ability to operate in that small space, to be able to apply fine dissection, tremor, less movements of the hands to dissect these nerves off of the prostate, and at the same time, suture the bladder back to the urethra after the prostate is removed,” Dr. Randall Lee, a urologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, tells SurvivorNet.
Pickens’ decision to reveal his prostate cancer diagnosis through a Grey’s Anatomy storyline sparked an immediate and powerful response, with viewers reaching out to say his message about early screening may have saved their lives.
Pickens’ push to spotlight prostate cancer through his own journey echoes the work of other influential voices – ESPN’s Jay Harris, survivor‑advocate Mellve Shahid, and metastatic survivor Roosevelt Greenwood – each featured in Men Beating the Odds, a series that elevates the personal stories of men from every walk of life confronting this disease.”
James Pickens Jr., 73, the beloved actor who has played Dr. Richard Webber on “Grey’s Anatomy” for two decades, brought his private prostate cancer journey into the public eye when he revealed his diagnosis on the show.
Within hours of the episode airing and a PSA urging men to get screened early, his phone lit up.
“This thing went well beyond what I expected,” Pickens told the “Big C Energy” podcast.
“I started getting calls from people saying, ‘Man, you saved my life.”
The storyline unfolded over a three‑episode arc, mirroring his own experience. Pickens then approached ABC Disney about attaching a PSA to the episodes.
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Actor James Pickens, Jr. accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award for ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ onstage at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards Pre-Telecast held at The Shrine Auditorium on February 17, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
“We worked with an organization called Black Health Matters, and literally the next day, it went viral,’ he said.
Pickens added that doctors were struck by how early his cancer was detected, which is something he credits with changing the trajectory of his life.
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 06: James Pickens Jr. attends the 2022 People’s Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on December 06, 2022, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images )
Pickens says his father and some of his uncles were also diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it,” Pickens said.
Knowing he’s at increased risk, he started getting his prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) in his early 40s to be able to better monitor his PSA levels and easily detect any subtle increases.
WATCH: What Happens If My PSA Test Is Elevated?
Prostate cancer screening may often involve a digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen test. This test measures the level of PSA in the blood, and higher levels can indicate cancer. Most cancer diagnoses are caught with screening.
“I started getting my annual physical 34 years ago. And I started my PSA testing when I was 41,” Pickens said.
Last year, during a routine check-up, Pickens says his doctor noticed those subtle increases in his PSA levels, which prompted more tests.
“My primary said, ‘Yeah, you know what? It’s ticked up some more. I want to send you back to the urologist.” Pickens said.
A biopsy and PET scan helped discover prostate cancer, but it was isolated to one quadrant of the prostate.
Not wasting any time, Pickens chose to undergo a robotic radical prostatectomy.
Prostate cancer surgery is a highly effective treatment for many men with localized disease. The goal is to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissues (such as seminal vesicles) to eliminate cancer. This procedure is called a radical prostatectomy.
“The robot has really revolutionized our ability to operate in that small space, to be able to apply fine dissection, tremor, less movements of the hands to dissect these nerves off of the prostate, and at the same time, suture the bladder back to the urethra after the prostate is removed,” Dr. Randall Lee, a urologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, tells SurvivorNet.
“Historically, with open surgery … one of the big risks of that was leakage of urine at that connection site. Nowadays, that is less of a concern with the ability to visualize that area in the pelvis.”
Choosing the right surgical approach involves a detailed conversation with your urologist or oncologic surgeon, something similar to what Pickens had with his care team before settling on robotic radical prostatectomy over radiotherapy.
“We caught it really early, and so they thought that would be the best route to take. 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,” Pickens said.
Pickens told ABC News that his latest scans found “no detectable” signs of cancer.
WATCH: Robotic Surgery Vs. Open Prostate Surgery For Prostate Cancer
More on Robotic Prostatectomy
A robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a robotic surgical system, such as the da Vinci Surgical System. The surgeon operates from a console, controlling robotic arms that hold surgical instruments and a high-definition 3D camera.
Tiny incisions (usually 5-6) are made in the lower abdomen to insert the instruments. The robotic system translates the surgeon’s hand movements into precise actions inside the patient’s body. The camera provides magnified views that help in identifying nerves and structures crucial to continence (bladder and bowel control) and sexual function.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 07: James Pickens Jr attends Celebrating 20 Years Of Shondaland at The Paley Museum on May 07, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Both types of prostate cancer surgeries [robotic and open surgery] carry the same general risks, including bleeding, infection, and complications related to anesthesia. However, functional outcomes, particularly urinary continence and erectile function, are of major concern for most patients.
Most men experience some degree of incontinence initially. Robotic surgery may lead to a quicker return to continence due to better precision in preserving structures around the urethra. Long-term incontinence rates are similar between both methods with experienced surgeons.
Nerve-sparing techniques can help preserve erectile function in eligible patients. Robotic surgery may offer a better chance at nerve preservation, though outcomes depend largely on the patient’s preoperative function and cancer location. Full recovery of sexual function can take months or more than a year.
How Other Influential Men Are Helping Raise Prostate Cancer Awareness
Longtime ESPN sports anchor Jay Harris, 61, decided to publicly share his prostate cancer diagnosis after encouragement from his wife.
Leading up to his diagnosis, his doctor noticed his PSA levels were higher than normal in November 2024. A follow-up visit to a urologist in February 2025, where a digital rectal exam was performed, ultimately prompted him to get an MRI.
“Men just don’t talk about prostate cancer. Men don’t talk about anything, especially if it involves illness, if it’s sports, if it’s golf …they’ll talk about that, but they won’t talk about their own bodies and the things that they’re going through,” Harris’ wife Stephanie tells SurvivorNet, referring to what led her to urge him to share his story.
“So speaking out was really important.”
St. Louis native Mellve Shahid used his journey to uplift and empower others. He created an organization dedicated to education, support, and early detection.
Mellve Shahid
“Too many men are dying from a preventable disease, and too many men are being diagnosed without any support. In the St. Louis community, [The] Empowerment Network (TEN) is hands down without a doubt the St. Louis gift,” Shahid told SurvivorNet.
Roosevelt Greenwood, his wife, Shay
After a 2001 tornado destroyed Roosevelt Greenwood’s home and he lost his job as a school principal, his luck hit a crescendo when he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.
However, ten years after a metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis, Greenwood, 57, is living what he calls an “answered prayer,” as advances in treatment keep him going. He also credits a large chunk of his success to his wife helping him every step of the way.
“She encouraged me then, and she encourages me now,” Greenwood says. “… There was no thought of us not going through this process together. We were going to go through it together, and we were going to beat it together, and that’s just what we did.”
Discover more stories like Greenwood, Mellve, Harris, and Mourning on “Men Beating The Odds” – an inspiring series that shares the powerful stories of men overcoming prostate cancer and redefining what it means to survive.
Prostate Cancer Screening and Warning Signs
When you do get screened for prostate cancer, your doctor will run a few tests.
One of the tests is the protein-specific antigen (PSA) test, a simple blood test that screens for prostate cancer. It looks for more significant amounts of protein-specific antigen in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer. It could also reflect that your prostate is enlarged, which is common, or it could signal an infection or inflammation.
Your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check your prostate for lumps.
Depending on the results of these tests, imaging scans and a biopsy may be ordered.
WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment
Prostate cancer does not always behave the same in every man it impacts. The cancer can be considered “low-risk” and can be slow-growing, and treatment might not be necessary. In other men, the cancer may grow faster or more aggressively, requiring more immediate treatment. Because of this, there is some debate about screening.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men at average risk between the ages of 55 and 69 years talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at age 50 who are at average risk should begin screening. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40. Men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should consider annual screenings in their 30s.
SurvivorNet experts suggested that men consider factors like their family history, genes, and age when deciding whether and when to screen.
Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:
Urinating more often
Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
Blood in your urine
Trouble getting an erection
Pain or burning when you urinate
Pain in your back, hips, thighs, or other bones
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
If You’re Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, What to Expect for Treatment?
After testing and establishing your risk, your doctor will discuss possible treatment options. These may range from active surveillance to more aggressive options, including surgery and radiation therapy.
WATCH: Coping emotionally after a prostate cancer diagnosis
Surgery is an option for men with any risk group of prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside of the prostate gland. The type of surgery most often used is called a radical prostatectomy.
During the procedure, the surgeon removes the entire prostate, along with some tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles that release fluid into the semen. Your doctor can perform this through a traditional open procedure with one large or several small incisions, called laparoscopic surgery.
WATCH: Sexual Function Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery
Surgery side effects may include erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Fortunately, the side effects are usually temporary, and there are ways to help you manage them.
“Erectile function is so sensitive when we’re dealing with prostate cancer because the nerves that are critical for this function wrap around the prostate; they’re just so intimately connected to the prostate that they can be damaged from a surgical removal of the prostate or through radiation treatment,” Dr. Isla Garraway, a staff urologist in the Veterans Administration (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, told SurvivorNet.
Doctors often recommend sexual counseling after prostate cancer treatment to help improve sexual function. This approach actively addresses the psychological, emotional, and relationship impacts on sexual health.
Radiation therapy is often done when prostate cancer is caught early and confined to the prostate gland.
Finding Resources And Support
For patients and families navigating prostate cancer or another serious illness like a cancer diagnosis, gaining access to new treatment or trials can feel overwhelming. That’s why SurvivorNet encourages patients to use its proprietary Clinical Trial Finder, a free tool designed to help patients identify relevant trials quickly and easily.
Every year, new early-phase studies come online, each one representing another step forward in disease management.
SurvivorNet’s AI-powered “My Health Questions” tool was also built with patient needs in mind, to give patients and their caregivers access to health information vetted by professionals right when they need it.
