Actor William Shatner has shared that a lump he initially found was dismissed by a doctor, only for a subsequent medical opinion to reveal a stage 4 melanoma diagnosis. The "Star Trek" star recounted that his initial physician identified the lump as a salivary gland issue, advising him to simply massage it.
Shatner, 95, sought a second opinion from a doctor friend who urged him to have it removed. This led to the diagnosis of malignant melanoma that had already spread. "It had spread to my brain. There were little points of light in my brain and little points of light, I think, in my lung," Shatner said, describing the extent of the disease as stage four.
He underwent surgery to remove the tumor and subsequently completed two years of immunotherapy. Shatner stated that he is still leading an active life and has no plans to slow down.
During the same period, Shatner's daughter, Melanie Shatner Gretsch, was also battling her own life-threatening diagnosis. She discovered a lump in her breast nearly a year before her father's diagnosis. Despite a prior mammogram not showing concerns, she pursued further checks.
Gretsch was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. She described the cancer as aggressive, having spread beyond the breast wall into her chest. Her treatment involved chemotherapy, radiation, a double mastectomy, and a year of immunotherapy.
Both Shatner and Gretsch were declared cancer-free by the end of 2024. Shatner noted that hearing the news of his daughter's remission was an emotional moment for him.