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James Pickens Jr.<\/a> has opened up about his cancer diagnosis, just days after his Grey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em><\/a> character, Dr. Richard Webber, revealed he had cancer on the show\u2019s mid-season finale.<\/a><\/p>\n In a recent interview with Black Health Matters<\/em><\/a>, the 73-year-old actor, who has starred in the ABC medical drama since its debut in 2005, revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, noting the disease runs in his family.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family,\u201d Pickens shared with the outlet. \u201cMy father had it. He had a lot of brothers; several of them had it. I would have been surprised if I hadn\u2019t gotten it.\u201d<\/p>\n On Thursday\u2019s (November 13) episode of Grey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em>, Pickens\u2019 Dr. Richard Webber revealed to Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson<\/a>) that he had also been given a cancer diagnosis, mirroring his real-life situation.<\/p>\n Despite the diagnosis, Pickens remains positive, noting, \u201cI\u2019ve got a 90-year-old first cousin, who\u2019s still alive, actually; he had it. His son has it. A couple of his brothers had it. No one, as far as I know, has succumbed to it.\u201d<\/p>\n Pickens said that the cancer was caught early due to his regular health check-ups. \u201cMy urologist said, \u2018Because you were so diligent in that piece of your health, it was to your advantage. We were able to catch it so early because you were being tested,’\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n