William Shatner and daughter Melanie reveal they both battled stage four cancer at the same time

Actor William Shatner and his daughter, Melanie Shatner Gretsch, have revealed they both battled stage four cancer diagnoses at the same time.

In 2022, Melanie, 61, was diagnosed with stage 4 HER2-positive breast cancer after discovering a lump on her chest.

The following year, the Shatner family was dealt another heartbreaking blow when William, 95, found a lump on his cheek which prompted him to see a doctor.

Their worst fears were confirmed when the lump turned out to be a growing tumour that was stage four melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain.

In a bid to fight the breast cancer, Melanie underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and a double mastectomy over a year and a half period after her diagnosis and as she learnt of her father’s illness.

Reflecting on the difficult period in the family’s lives, Melanie said she was more concerned about her father’s health.

“I remember vividly thinking, ‘I don’t have the strength to take care of myself and lose my father at the same time’,” she told People.

The Star Trek star underwent surgery to remove the tumour and received two years of immunotherapy to target the cancer.

“I went to an oncologist ... and they operated almost immediately with stage four melanoma,” William said.

The tight-knit pair said they supported one another throughout their cancer journeys, crediting advances in treatment and their medical teams.

“He said, ‘This is going to be a blip in your life. You’re going to get through this, and it’ll be a memory’,” Melanie said, with William adding, “We got the perfect doctors for her cancer and my cancer.”

The father-daughter duo have also been given a new lease on life in the wake of their cancer battles.

“(Overcoming cancer) changed my life. I’m not so afraid anymore, and there’s so much freedom and joy,” Melanie said.

Her father added that family time is more important than ever, with regular plans to join his daughters, five grandkids and two great-grandkids for weekly dinner catch-ups.

“Sundays used to be three and me — now there’s more than 15,” William said.

William and Melanie, who were declared cancer free in 2024 by medical professionals, have been inspired by their success story to launch a podcast called No Time but Now, which will centre on interviews with other cancer survivors and health experts.