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William Shatner and his daughter, Melanie Shatner Gretsch, just revealed they both faced a terrifying experience at the same time: stage 4 cancer.
Shatner, 95, a Star Trek legend known by many for his role as Captain James T. Kirk, was diagnosed with stage 4 malignant melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain in June 2023, he told PEOPLE in a new cover story. However, his daughter, 61, was also dealt a serious blow as she navigated treatment for stage 4 breast cancer.
The dynamic father-daughter duo is now cancer-free. Along with strong family support, they credit groundbreaking treatments for their thriving health. But it wasn't always so hopeful. Gretsch recalled calling her father in the middle of the night three years ago in a panic, telling him that she thought she was dying. Fifteen minutes later, Shatner was standing in her driveway with open arms.
“He gave me, what I think of ever since I was a little girl, a ‘daddy bear hug,’” Gretsch told the publication. “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.’”
How Did Melanie Shatner Gretsch Discover She Had Cancer?
While Melanie had just had a clear mammogram five months earlier, she told PEOPLE that she found a lump on her breast in July 2022.
“I woke up in the middle of the night, and my finger moved up right beneath my breast. I felt a little bump and thought, ‘It’s just a bug bite,’” she shared.
She went in for an imaging appointment the next day. While the technician initially didn't find anything concerning, Melanie felt encouraged to have her recheck it. After putting the wand exactly where her finger was, the technician admitted, "Now, I would have missed that,’” she recalled to the publication.
Shatner And His Daughter Have a New Podcast
Shatner and Gretsch have an exciting new project on the horizon. On July 29, they're launching No Time but Now, a new weekly podcast series presented by LifeWave. On the podcast, they'll interview health experts and other survivors.
“It’s easy for us in this lovely home to say, ‘Make your life meaningful.’ It’s much more difficult to be poverty-stricken and wonder how you’re going to get through it. I’ve been there,” said Shatner. “But it’s also possible to endure that and be aware of the beauty around you.”
Check out the trailer below:
Related: William Shatner, 94, Makes Shocking Confession About His 'Star Trek' Career
