Originally appeared on E! Online

James Pickens Jr. is getting candid about his health.

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The "Grey’s Anatomy" actor shared that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year after a biopsy revealed a tumor on his gland.

“It’s not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family,” he said in a recent interview with Black Health Matters . “My father had it. He had a lot of brothers; several of them had it. I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it.”

But despite the 71-year-old’s family history with the disease, he pointed out a key silver lining that’s helped him stay positive about the situation.

“I’ve got a 90-year-old first cousin — who’s st

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