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James Pickens Jr. Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis in Instagram Message, Cites Screening for Early Detection

He shares the news to urge routine prostate checks, citing screening plus family history for very early detection.

Overview

  • Pickens disclosed his 2024 prostate cancer diagnosis on Nov. 15, 2025 in a video shared via Black Health Matters on Instagram.
  • He said an abnormal blood test led to a urologist visit and biopsy confirming a tumor, followed by a PET scan showing no spread at the time.
  • The actor underwent a robot-assisted procedure that removed part of his prostate, describing the case as caught exceptionally early.
  • He called himself “living proof” of screening’s value and encouraged others to prioritize preventive exams, drawing supportive messages from fans.
  • Pickens, 71, is known for more than two decades on Grey’s Anatomy, and coverage cited RKI data noting prostate cancer as the most common cancer in men in Germany with a median diagnosis age around 71.