Overview
- The pair disclosed in a People interview published Wednesday that Melanie Shatner Gretsch and her father were treated for separate stage 4 cancers around the same period and that both were declared cancer-free in late 2024.
- Melanie was diagnosed with HER2‑positive metastatic breast cancer in 2022 and completed about 18 months of treatment that included chemotherapy, HER2-targeted therapy, a double mastectomy and 30 radiation sessions.
- William Shatner received a stage 4 malignant melanoma diagnosis in June 2023 after a lump on his cheek was found to be a tumor; he had surgery to remove the facial tumor and then underwent two years of immunotherapy for disease that had spread to his lungs and brain.
- The two say family support and practical help shaped their care, with Shatner providing emotional backing and offering to cover medical bills so Melanie would not worry about costs.
- They plan to launch a weekly podcast focused on survivorship and health on July 29 and use their story to highlight how advances in immunotherapy and HER2-directed treatments and specialized care can improve outcomes for some patients with stage 4 disease.