Loyal fans of Grey’s Anatomy know that the show’s finales are no joke. From explosions to sudden deaths, the long-running series isn’t afraid to throw series-changing bombshells and twists in the season and mid-season finales. So, perhaps it’s no surprise that the Season 22 fall finale, which premiered on November 13, 2025, put not one, but two main characters in the show at risk. But will either of them be okay?
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Might Be Getting Ready to Say Goodbye to a Fan-Favorite
In the final minutes of Episode 6, titled “When I Crash,” beloved original cast member Dr. Webber (James Pickens Jr.) reveals to Bailey (Chandra Wilson) that he’s been diagnosed with cancer. The two had been bickering and butting heads over a patient’s care all day, so the news hits Bailey in full force. She simply stares at him with her jaw dropped in disbelief. Webber, on the other hand, is saddened, but not entirely distraught.
After all, Webber has been through his fair share of health scares over the years. In Season 1, Webber was struggling with his vision and discovered a brain tumor pressing on his optical nerve that Dr. Shepard (Patrick Dempsey) later removed. In Season 9, Webber got electrocuted and fought for his life after a superstorm hit the hospital. A few seasons later, in Season 16, he began presenting symptoms of Alzheimer’s before being diagnosed with cobalt poisoning as a side effect of a hip replacement. With all that, Webber’s proven to be a true fighter, so he might recover swimmingly from having cancer too.
Another important part in Webber’s diagnosis is that his wife Catherine (Debbie Allen) has cancer too. Since being diagnosed in Season 15, Catherine has been undergoing treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy. In Season 21, after a sudden collapse, scans revealed that her tumor had progressed and spread to her liver. Despite trying to keep the news from Webber and her son, Jackson (Jesse Williams), the truth soon came to light. So, while Catherine and Webber’s cancer diagnoses are certainly terrible news for each of them, there’s no indication that the diagnosis is a death sentence, especially with someone as powerful and connected as Catherine Fox.
After the end of the fall finale, Pickens Jr. gave a rare PSA about the importance of early prevention and detection of prostate cancer, especially for Black men. In it, the actor also revealed his own cancer battle. “Today, I am living proof that early detection works,” he says. From the looks of it, Pickens Jr. will be bringing his own personal journey with cancer for the show, and raising awareness about early prevention with the Black Health Matters organization more than ever before. Whether that means a quick recovery for Webber, or a long road ahead in treatment, however, is up to the writers’ room.
Webber Wasn’t the Only Twist in the Finale
While Webber’s diagnosis was certainly Episode 6’s biggest pindrop moment, he isn’t the only character in Grey Sloan going through a medical scare. Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington), who is expecting twins with her husband Link (Chris Carmack), is diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy after experiencing shortness of breath. During surgery to insert a heart pump to ensure more time for the babies to develop in utero, things quickly go south, with Jo and her babies crashing. As a result, Winston (Anthony Hill) has no choice but to perform a C-section, a surgery he hasn’t done since med school.
Jo’s life-threatening surgery comes just a few episodes after Link’s own health scare following the shocking Season 21 finale. After an explosion on the OR floor, Link was fighting for his life after losing a lot of blood. He luckily recovered, but the couple was definitely shaken up. Now, Jo’s life is the one on the line, as are both of their kids.
Much like fans would expect, the fall finale of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 was nothing short of jaw-dropping. While pregnancy complications when carrying twins are certainly common, Jo’s health scare is certainly worrying, especially everything she’s already gone through this season. For Webber, his cancer diagnosis is heartbreaking, but there’s still hope the show won’t be saying goodbye to the beloved character anytime soon. To see what happens next, viewers will have to tune in when Grey’s Anatomy returns on January 8, 2026.