I hate this insidious killer. As my cousin who I grew up with lies in hospice care waiting to die, I think about all the others this plague has consumed. My sister and step father among them along with all the innocent children who bravely battle this bastard every day. I hate it when people say that a terminal diagnosis is Gods will. Or everything happens for a reason. BULLSHYT! God has nothing to do with it. It's a matter of chance. I guess if we cured all the killers of this world like cancer the population would become more than managable. I don't know. I've watched how loved ones suffer with this bastard of a disease until you feel grateful when their suffering finally ends. I don't know what to say. Words really don't mean a fukkin thing. I do hope for a cure especially for the children who suffer with this condition.
Cancer
- Thread starter Ludlow
- Start date
For sure. There is hope, as progress is gradually being made. Another real bastard is that f**king A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's disease) - it's in my family, I've lost a few relatives due to it. Stephen Hawking is about the only long term survivor of it I've heard of, so it's probably 99.99% fatal. Maybe the only guards against these diseases is stubbornness and obnoxiousness.
Hope you are making headway with your condition, Ludlow!
Cancer cases worldwide are expected to soar in the coming decades, a report finds. Here’s why.
Around 20.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2024, according to the findings. That number could reach 35 million a year by 2050.
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Daniel Wu
Published Jul 08, 2026 • 3 minute read
The X-ray of the human brain
Photo by merydolla /Adobe Stock
Annual cancer cases are projected to rise considerably worldwide by 2050, according to a World Health Organization report on cancer published Wednesday. With its assessment, the United Nations body tempered optimism about improvements in cancer surveillance and treatment and warned that global health care inequities are driving further cases and deaths.
Around 20.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2024, according to the findings. That number could reach 35 million a year by 2050.
The new cancer cases will disproportionately be borne by lower-income countries with poorer access to cancer surveillance and treatment, according to the report.
“Far too many people are still being left behind,” André Ilbawi, the lead for cancer control at WHO, said at a news conference about the study this week.
Cancer cases have risen globally in recent years, and other recent reports have given similar projections for 2050 as WHO’s latest study. One in five people will develop cancer in their lifetime, according to WHO.
The reasons behind increasing cancer rates are complex. Some cancers have become more common in different age groups. But the volume of cancer diagnoses is also being driven by improved detection and the fact that people are living longer, which increases the likelihood of developing age-associated cancers.
In the United States, the rate of new cancer cases has generally been stable in recent years, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the cancer death rate has declined.
Emil Lou, an oncologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, said in an interview that improvements to treatments like immunotherapy have greatly increased patient survivability for some advanced cancers like lung cancer.
“While we’ve made great progress as a society in treating some forms of cancer more effectively than ever before, the rise in cancer prevalence worldwide reminds us that we still have a very long way to go,” said Lou, who was not involved in the WHO study.
WHO’s report highlighted the steep differences in cancer outcomes for regions without access to better cancer treatment and surveillance. Researchers cited statistics for breast and cervical cancer to illustrate the disparity.
“In higher income countries in Europe, in North America, we see cervical cancer has been decreasing … to almost elimination,” said Isabelle Soerjomataram, an epidemiologist with the International Agency for Research on Cancer who spoke at the WHO news conference. “In many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, it is still the top, number one cancer.”
In high-income countries, the five-year net survival rate for breast cancer now exceeds 85 percent, according to WHO; in low-income countries, it drops below 30 percent.
Countries both rich and poor are not adequately investing in programs for cancer prevention and treatment, the report said, though it highlighted moderate progress in curbing some practices and conditions that can cause cancer.
The report praised global progress in adopting measures to reduce tobacco use, which has dropped 27 percent since 2010. Separately, 85 percent of countries now have human papillomavirus vaccines in their national vaccine programs, according to the report, and an estimated 31 percent of girls have received the first dose of the vaccine, up from 17 percent in 2019.
Among the most alarming trends researchers highlighted in the report was a failure by most countries to curb rising obesity rates. Obesity has been linked to over a dozen cancers, including liver, pancreatic and colorectal cancer, according to the NIH.
“It will be a significant added burden for every country globally when cancers associated with obesity become the norm,” Ilbawi said. “That will likely happen in a significant number of countries in the next 20 or 30 years.”
Soerjomataram said that while the report’s projections for future cancer cases may be alarming, researchers stress many of them are preventable.
“Four in 10 new cancer cases are linked to risk factors for which we already know how to address,” Soerjomataram said.
healthing.ca
healthing.ca
healthing.ca
healthing.ca
healthing.ca
torontosun.com
Around 20.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2024, according to the findings. That number could reach 35 million a year by 2050.
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Daniel Wu
Published Jul 08, 2026 • 3 minute read
The X-ray of the human brain
Photo by merydolla /Adobe Stock
Annual cancer cases are projected to rise considerably worldwide by 2050, according to a World Health Organization report on cancer published Wednesday. With its assessment, the United Nations body tempered optimism about improvements in cancer surveillance and treatment and warned that global health care inequities are driving further cases and deaths.
Around 20.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2024, according to the findings. That number could reach 35 million a year by 2050.
The new cancer cases will disproportionately be borne by lower-income countries with poorer access to cancer surveillance and treatment, according to the report.
“Far too many people are still being left behind,” André Ilbawi, the lead for cancer control at WHO, said at a news conference about the study this week.
Cancer cases have risen globally in recent years, and other recent reports have given similar projections for 2050 as WHO’s latest study. One in five people will develop cancer in their lifetime, according to WHO.
The reasons behind increasing cancer rates are complex. Some cancers have become more common in different age groups. But the volume of cancer diagnoses is also being driven by improved detection and the fact that people are living longer, which increases the likelihood of developing age-associated cancers.
In the United States, the rate of new cancer cases has generally been stable in recent years, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the cancer death rate has declined.
Emil Lou, an oncologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, said in an interview that improvements to treatments like immunotherapy have greatly increased patient survivability for some advanced cancers like lung cancer.
“While we’ve made great progress as a society in treating some forms of cancer more effectively than ever before, the rise in cancer prevalence worldwide reminds us that we still have a very long way to go,” said Lou, who was not involved in the WHO study.
WHO’s report highlighted the steep differences in cancer outcomes for regions without access to better cancer treatment and surveillance. Researchers cited statistics for breast and cervical cancer to illustrate the disparity.
“In higher income countries in Europe, in North America, we see cervical cancer has been decreasing … to almost elimination,” said Isabelle Soerjomataram, an epidemiologist with the International Agency for Research on Cancer who spoke at the WHO news conference. “In many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, it is still the top, number one cancer.”
In high-income countries, the five-year net survival rate for breast cancer now exceeds 85 percent, according to WHO; in low-income countries, it drops below 30 percent.
Countries both rich and poor are not adequately investing in programs for cancer prevention and treatment, the report said, though it highlighted moderate progress in curbing some practices and conditions that can cause cancer.
The report praised global progress in adopting measures to reduce tobacco use, which has dropped 27 percent since 2010. Separately, 85 percent of countries now have human papillomavirus vaccines in their national vaccine programs, according to the report, and an estimated 31 percent of girls have received the first dose of the vaccine, up from 17 percent in 2019.
Among the most alarming trends researchers highlighted in the report was a failure by most countries to curb rising obesity rates. Obesity has been linked to over a dozen cancers, including liver, pancreatic and colorectal cancer, according to the NIH.
“It will be a significant added burden for every country globally when cancers associated with obesity become the norm,” Ilbawi said. “That will likely happen in a significant number of countries in the next 20 or 30 years.”
Soerjomataram said that while the report’s projections for future cancer cases may be alarming, researchers stress many of them are preventable.
“Four in 10 new cancer cases are linked to risk factors for which we already know how to address,” Soerjomataram said.
Colorectal Cancer | Healthing.ca
Often detected through screening, colorectal cancer challenges patients with physical and lifestyle adjustments. This hub covers the reality of surgery, ostomy care, and chemotherapy. Content highlights the rising incidence in younger adults and offers practical advice on recovery, supported by...
healthing.ca
Human papillomavirus (HPV). | Healthing.ca
HPV is the most common STI, linked to various cancers. This hub explains the virus's lifecycle and the vital role of vaccination. Articles clarify screening guidelines (Pap tests) and symptom management. The focus is on prevention and education, demystifying a virus that affects the majority of...
healthing.ca
Breast Cancer | Healthing.ca
Beyond the pink ribbon, breast cancer involves complex decisions about genetics, surgery, and identity. This section explores the journey from screening to reconstruction and survivorship. Real stories address intimacy and body image, while expert articles cover advances in targeted therapies...
healthing.ca
Cervical cancer | Healthing.ca
Preventable yet life-changing, cervical cancer touches on sensitive topics of fertility and sexual health. This collection breaks down the science of HPV and screening protocols. Articles tackle the stigma often attached to the diagnosis, offering supportive patient narratives and clear guidance...
healthing.ca
Lung Cancer | Healthing.ca
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death, yet innovation is changing the landscape. This category moves past stigma to focus on biomarker testing and immunotherapy. Resources cover the management of breathlessness and diagnosis, featuring stories from never-smokers and long-term...
healthing.ca
Cancer cases worldwide are expected to soar in the coming decades, a report finds. Here’s why.
Annual cancer cases are projected to rise considerably worldwide by 2050, according to a World Health Organization report.
Why does cancer seem so common right now? An oncologist explains.
Cancer is a global problem.
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Mikkael Sekeres, MD
Published Jul 22, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 6 minute read
patient listening to doctor
Photo by Konstantin Yuganov /Adobe Stock
Q: I know so many people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Are rates really going up? Why does it seem so common now?
Cancer is a global problem. If it seems like there are more cancer diagnoses than ever, you’re right: In 1975, about 400 per 100,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with cancer. In 2023, the incidence was 456 per 100,000, though overall rates have been mostly stable since 2014.
While more people are being diagnosed with cancer today compared to 50 years ago – either because of an increase in actual cases, better detection or a changing definition of what’s considered cancer – the good news is that fewer are dying from it. Since 1999, age-adjusted cancer d eath r ates fell dramatically, from 201 per 100,000 people in 1999, to 142 per 100,000 people in 2023.
To understand how these can both be possible at the same time – and how ultimately, the outlook for those diagnosed with cancer is quite positive – it helps to first understand what cancer is, how it occurs and how modern treatments have learned how to exploit the diagnosis for good.
Put simply, cancer involves the uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. While there are a number of possible causes, they are all related to errors that happen in the cell’s genetic instructions, or DNA.
The cell can make a random mistake when replicating, resulting in a cell that grows faster than other cells around it. Or, the cell can be damaged by carcinogens, such as ultraviolet light or the chemicals in cigarettes.
Some cancers can also occur when a cell’s “self-destruct” code malfunctions. Our bodies recognize when cells are damaged, grow too rapidly or otherwise behave abnormally, then react by sending out chemical signals that tell the cells to stop growing or self-destruct. Errors can alter that signal or affect a cell’s ability to recognize it; the cell turns a deaf ear to the instructions from the body to cease and desist.
Most genetic errors that cause uncontrolled cell growth occur because of bad luck. The longer we live, the more of our cells divide, increasing the statistical likelihood that one of those cells will make a mistake when replicating and develop into cancer. This is why most cancers are diagnosed in older adults.
Another form of bad luck includes genetic mutations we’re born with. It is estimated that up to 10 percent of cancers are caused by inherited genetic abnormalities such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are linked to breast, ovarian and prostate cancers, among others.
Some genetic errors are introduced by viruses. Anywhere from 13 to 20 percent of cancers worldwide are thought to be due to viruses, such as human papilloma virus, or HPV, Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis B and C, and bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori.
Other extrinsic or “outside of the body” factors can break or damage a cell’s DNA and lead to cancer, including smoking, alcohol intake and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or other sources, such as tanning beds. Less common DNA-damaging culprits include environmental exposures such as industrial chemicals, nuclear radiation, chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat other cancers.
Once created, cancer cells are insidious: They can instruct blood vessels to grow toward tumours, thus ensuring their own survival by having an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients; they can hide from the immune system, cloaking themselves to prevent their own destruction; and they can even trick the immune system into helping them survive and thrive.
Overall, people are living longer because deaths from cardiovascular disease, stroke and other medical conditions have declined. As we extend our lifespan, though, we increase that statistical likelihood that our cells accumulate genetic mutations.
Cancer rates can also change depending on how we define “cancer.” For example, many of my patients have a type of bone marrow cancer called myelodysplastic syndromes. It was only about 25 years ago that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute formally recognized this condition as a cancer, and started tracking it alongside more common cancers like those of the lung, breast or prostate. Once these government agencies decided to call myelodysplastic syndromes a cancer, overnight the numbers of cancers diagnosed in the U.S. increased by about 20,000 per year.
And much of the increase in cancer diagnoses can be attributed to better detection. Radiology scans have become more refined and sensitive, making them better at detecting abnormalities that lead to cancer diagnoses. Laboratory tests have been developed to identify markers in the blood (such as certain proteins) that suggest cancer may be present before it otherwise would have been discovered.
Cancer screening programs, which are designed to detect cancer in its early stages, when it is potentially more curable, have uncovered more slower-growing cancers – including ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in women or early stage prostate cancer in men – that previously never would have been diagnosed.
While there are increases in certain kinds of cancer (which generate a lot of discussion), such as colorectal cancer in people under 50, it’s also true that cancer rates are dropping in other groups, like colorectal cancer in people over 50.
There is some good news: People are living longer than ever following a cancer diagnosis. The National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences estimates that there are over 18 million cancer survivors in the U.S. and that this number is expected to grow to 26 million by 2040. Seventy percent of survivors live five or more years following their diagnosis, approximately half live 10 or more years and three-quarters of survivors are 60 years or older.
While some of the improved survival from cancer can be attributed to the increased number of early-stage cancers detected, we can also thank advancements in cancer therapies. Traditional chemotherapies damage cells during the division process, taking advantage of those rapidly dividing cancer cells. Other drugs, called angiogenesis inhibitors, help prevent the growth of blood vessels that feed the tumor. These treatment approaches, though, are not always specific to a given person’s cancer, and tend to affect the growth of noncancerous cells, too.
But over the past two to three decades, medications have been developed that target specific genetic mutations within the cancer cells, such as the HER2 abnormality in breast cancer, ALK in lung cancer, FLT3 in leukemia and more recently KRAS in pancreatic cancer, among many, many others.
And within the past 10 to 15 years, there has been a revolution in the use of immunotherapy to treat cancer, with drugs that specifically target proteins on the outside of cancer cells, or that harness a patient’s own immune system to essentially train it to find and eliminate cancer. These newer, innovative treatments have improved the rates and duration of remission and even survival for a number of cancers, and have retooled how we treat cancer.
So while it is true that there seems to be more cancer than ever, there is also more hope than ever, as cancer is being detected earlier, eliminated more effectively or transformed to a chronic condition rather than a life-threatening one.
Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, MS, is the chief of the division of hematology and professor of medicine at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami . He is author of the books ” When Blood Breaks Down: Life Lessons from Leukemia ” and ” Drugs and the FDA: Safety, Efficacy, and the Public’s Trust .”
torontosun.com
Cancer is a global problem.
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Mikkael Sekeres, MD
Published Jul 22, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 6 minute read
patient listening to doctor
Photo by Konstantin Yuganov /Adobe Stock
Q: I know so many people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Are rates really going up? Why does it seem so common now?
Cancer is a global problem. If it seems like there are more cancer diagnoses than ever, you’re right: In 1975, about 400 per 100,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with cancer. In 2023, the incidence was 456 per 100,000, though overall rates have been mostly stable since 2014.
While more people are being diagnosed with cancer today compared to 50 years ago – either because of an increase in actual cases, better detection or a changing definition of what’s considered cancer – the good news is that fewer are dying from it. Since 1999, age-adjusted cancer d eath r ates fell dramatically, from 201 per 100,000 people in 1999, to 142 per 100,000 people in 2023.
To understand how these can both be possible at the same time – and how ultimately, the outlook for those diagnosed with cancer is quite positive – it helps to first understand what cancer is, how it occurs and how modern treatments have learned how to exploit the diagnosis for good.
Put simply, cancer involves the uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. While there are a number of possible causes, they are all related to errors that happen in the cell’s genetic instructions, or DNA.
The cell can make a random mistake when replicating, resulting in a cell that grows faster than other cells around it. Or, the cell can be damaged by carcinogens, such as ultraviolet light or the chemicals in cigarettes.
Some cancers can also occur when a cell’s “self-destruct” code malfunctions. Our bodies recognize when cells are damaged, grow too rapidly or otherwise behave abnormally, then react by sending out chemical signals that tell the cells to stop growing or self-destruct. Errors can alter that signal or affect a cell’s ability to recognize it; the cell turns a deaf ear to the instructions from the body to cease and desist.
Most genetic errors that cause uncontrolled cell growth occur because of bad luck. The longer we live, the more of our cells divide, increasing the statistical likelihood that one of those cells will make a mistake when replicating and develop into cancer. This is why most cancers are diagnosed in older adults.
Another form of bad luck includes genetic mutations we’re born with. It is estimated that up to 10 percent of cancers are caused by inherited genetic abnormalities such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are linked to breast, ovarian and prostate cancers, among others.
Some genetic errors are introduced by viruses. Anywhere from 13 to 20 percent of cancers worldwide are thought to be due to viruses, such as human papilloma virus, or HPV, Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis B and C, and bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori.
Other extrinsic or “outside of the body” factors can break or damage a cell’s DNA and lead to cancer, including smoking, alcohol intake and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or other sources, such as tanning beds. Less common DNA-damaging culprits include environmental exposures such as industrial chemicals, nuclear radiation, chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat other cancers.
Once created, cancer cells are insidious: They can instruct blood vessels to grow toward tumours, thus ensuring their own survival by having an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients; they can hide from the immune system, cloaking themselves to prevent their own destruction; and they can even trick the immune system into helping them survive and thrive.
Overall, people are living longer because deaths from cardiovascular disease, stroke and other medical conditions have declined. As we extend our lifespan, though, we increase that statistical likelihood that our cells accumulate genetic mutations.
Cancer rates can also change depending on how we define “cancer.” For example, many of my patients have a type of bone marrow cancer called myelodysplastic syndromes. It was only about 25 years ago that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute formally recognized this condition as a cancer, and started tracking it alongside more common cancers like those of the lung, breast or prostate. Once these government agencies decided to call myelodysplastic syndromes a cancer, overnight the numbers of cancers diagnosed in the U.S. increased by about 20,000 per year.
And much of the increase in cancer diagnoses can be attributed to better detection. Radiology scans have become more refined and sensitive, making them better at detecting abnormalities that lead to cancer diagnoses. Laboratory tests have been developed to identify markers in the blood (such as certain proteins) that suggest cancer may be present before it otherwise would have been discovered.
Cancer screening programs, which are designed to detect cancer in its early stages, when it is potentially more curable, have uncovered more slower-growing cancers – including ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in women or early stage prostate cancer in men – that previously never would have been diagnosed.
While there are increases in certain kinds of cancer (which generate a lot of discussion), such as colorectal cancer in people under 50, it’s also true that cancer rates are dropping in other groups, like colorectal cancer in people over 50.
There is some good news: People are living longer than ever following a cancer diagnosis. The National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences estimates that there are over 18 million cancer survivors in the U.S. and that this number is expected to grow to 26 million by 2040. Seventy percent of survivors live five or more years following their diagnosis, approximately half live 10 or more years and three-quarters of survivors are 60 years or older.
While some of the improved survival from cancer can be attributed to the increased number of early-stage cancers detected, we can also thank advancements in cancer therapies. Traditional chemotherapies damage cells during the division process, taking advantage of those rapidly dividing cancer cells. Other drugs, called angiogenesis inhibitors, help prevent the growth of blood vessels that feed the tumor. These treatment approaches, though, are not always specific to a given person’s cancer, and tend to affect the growth of noncancerous cells, too.
But over the past two to three decades, medications have been developed that target specific genetic mutations within the cancer cells, such as the HER2 abnormality in breast cancer, ALK in lung cancer, FLT3 in leukemia and more recently KRAS in pancreatic cancer, among many, many others.
And within the past 10 to 15 years, there has been a revolution in the use of immunotherapy to treat cancer, with drugs that specifically target proteins on the outside of cancer cells, or that harness a patient’s own immune system to essentially train it to find and eliminate cancer. These newer, innovative treatments have improved the rates and duration of remission and even survival for a number of cancers, and have retooled how we treat cancer.
So while it is true that there seems to be more cancer than ever, there is also more hope than ever, as cancer is being detected earlier, eliminated more effectively or transformed to a chronic condition rather than a life-threatening one.
Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, MS, is the chief of the division of hematology and professor of medicine at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami . He is author of the books ” When Blood Breaks Down: Life Lessons from Leukemia ” and ” Drugs and the FDA: Safety, Efficacy, and the Public’s Trust .”
Why does cancer seem so common right now? An oncologist explains.
Q: I know so many people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Are rates really going up? Why does it seem so common now?
William Shatner and his daughter reveal they both fought Stage 4 cancer
'Star Trek' icon and his daughter open up on life-changing diagnosis
Author of the article:Mark Daniell
Published Jul 22, 2026 • 4 minute read
William Shatner speaks at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo at the BMO Centre on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
William Shatner speaks at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo at the BMO Centre on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Photo by Brent Calver /Postmedia
William Shatner has revealed that he and his daughter, Melanie Shatner Gretsch, both battled Stage 4 cancer over the past few years.
The father-daughter duo made the revelation in a new cover story with PEOPLE magazine, saying that they are now both cancer-free.
Gretsch, 61, said she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. It was while she was undergoing treatment the following year that Shatner, 95, learned he had Stage 4 melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain.
The two are launching a new weekly podcast series titled No Time but Now, in which they’ll interview other cancer survivors and health experts.
Gretsch, who is the youngest of the Star Trek actor’s three daughters with his first wife, Gloria Rand, said she underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and 30 radiation therapy treatments.
“Chemo was the most physically draining, and the radiation I found so emotionally draining,” she said.
But when she was going through her final round of treatment, Gretsch noticed a lump on her dad’s cheek.
“I went to the family doctor, and he said, ‘It’s your salivary gland. It’s blocked. Just massage it,’” Shatner recalled.
When Shatner asked a plastic-surgeon friend for a second opinion, they told him: “You better get this out.”
Gretsch admitted 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 the outlet.
Shatner underwent surgery to remove the tumour, followed by two years of immunotherapy to fight off the cancer in his lungs and brain.
Throughout it all, Shatner continued to work. “He wouldn’t stop his life. He kept working and moving forward,” Gretsch said.
Dr. Omid Hamid, who helped develop the immunotherapies used to target Shatner’s tumours, said that just 20 years ago the average survival time for those with his diagnosis was “six to eight months.”
Dr. Carlie Thompson, who was part of Gretsch’s care team, said “groundbreaking” treatments helped eradicate her cancer.
Both were declared cancer-free at the end of 2024.
Gretsch said the experience has changed her life. “I’m not so afraid anymore, and there’s so much freedom and joy,” she said.
Meanwhile, Shatner said he has learned to find gratitude in all the things life has to offer.
“I’m thinking of the miracle of a hummingbird, and of my dog taking a ball, and my children,” Shatner said. “I’m aware of the magic of it all.”
Shatner shut down health rumours earlier this year
Back in April, Shatner spoke out after social media reports went viral that claimed he was dying.
The TV icon accused a Facebook page attributed to The Beanstalk Functions Group of publishing “stories that say I have stage 4 brain cancer, was in some kind of fight with Erika Kirk and that I’m dying.”
“I wanted to put this out yesterday but given the day, and the possibility that it would look like a joke I waited for today,” Shatner said, making reference to April Fools’ Day. “None of these stories are true, but they apparently seem genuine enough for fans to repost them across social media and send messages of support to me and my family all while the culprits behind the account make money. This is the downside of AI and yellow journalism. While it can be a wonderful tool in the right hands; it can be used as a weapon in the wrong hands”
Shatner claims the stories were being monetized.
“Most of the stories use an AI image of me,” he added.
The actor warned his followers not to believe any news about his health unless it appeared on his own verified social media pages.
But in a 2022 interview with Postmedia, Shatner said death was never far from his mind.
“As you get older, as I’m sure you can imagine, you think of death — it becomes more and more present,” he said at the time. “I’ve heard of people weeping, my father was incapacitated, he had had a stroke and he had tears in his eyes and I wonder quite often what he was crying about. Was he crying about leaving? I loved him very much and he loved me. Was he weeping because of me and leaving this world?”
The notion informed how he bid farewell to Captain James T. Kirk in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations.
“So when this character was dying, I thought, ‘How do you die?'” Shatner said. “I thought, ‘How would Captain Kirk die?’ Captain Kirk, who has faced death so often. I thought he would look at death approaching with the same awe and wonder that he looked at these strange beings that he faced in the years I played him. I wanted him to look at death as something filled with the awe and wonder that he looked at the universe.”
mdaniell@postmedia.com
notimebutnow.com
torontosun.com
'Star Trek' icon and his daughter open up on life-changing diagnosis
Author of the article:Mark Daniell
Published Jul 22, 2026 • 4 minute read
William Shatner speaks at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo at the BMO Centre on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
William Shatner speaks at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo at the BMO Centre on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Photo by Brent Calver /Postmedia
William Shatner has revealed that he and his daughter, Melanie Shatner Gretsch, both battled Stage 4 cancer over the past few years.
The father-daughter duo made the revelation in a new cover story with PEOPLE magazine, saying that they are now both cancer-free.
Gretsch, 61, said she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. It was while she was undergoing treatment the following year that Shatner, 95, learned he had Stage 4 melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain.
The two are launching a new weekly podcast series titled No Time but Now, in which they’ll interview other cancer survivors and health experts.
Gretsch, who is the youngest of the Star Trek actor’s three daughters with his first wife, Gloria Rand, said she underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and 30 radiation therapy treatments.
“Chemo was the most physically draining, and the radiation I found so emotionally draining,” she said.
But when she was going through her final round of treatment, Gretsch noticed a lump on her dad’s cheek.
“I went to the family doctor, and he said, ‘It’s your salivary gland. It’s blocked. Just massage it,’” Shatner recalled.
When Shatner asked a plastic-surgeon friend for a second opinion, they told him: “You better get this out.”
Gretsch admitted 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 the outlet.
Shatner underwent surgery to remove the tumour, followed by two years of immunotherapy to fight off the cancer in his lungs and brain.
Throughout it all, Shatner continued to work. “He wouldn’t stop his life. He kept working and moving forward,” Gretsch said.
Dr. Omid Hamid, who helped develop the immunotherapies used to target Shatner’s tumours, said that just 20 years ago the average survival time for those with his diagnosis was “six to eight months.”
Dr. Carlie Thompson, who was part of Gretsch’s care team, said “groundbreaking” treatments helped eradicate her cancer.
Both were declared cancer-free at the end of 2024.
Gretsch said the experience has changed her life. “I’m not so afraid anymore, and there’s so much freedom and joy,” she said.
Meanwhile, Shatner said he has learned to find gratitude in all the things life has to offer.
“I’m thinking of the miracle of a hummingbird, and of my dog taking a ball, and my children,” Shatner said. “I’m aware of the magic of it all.”
Shatner shut down health rumours earlier this year
Back in April, Shatner spoke out after social media reports went viral that claimed he was dying.
The TV icon accused a Facebook page attributed to The Beanstalk Functions Group of publishing “stories that say I have stage 4 brain cancer, was in some kind of fight with Erika Kirk and that I’m dying.”
“I wanted to put this out yesterday but given the day, and the possibility that it would look like a joke I waited for today,” Shatner said, making reference to April Fools’ Day. “None of these stories are true, but they apparently seem genuine enough for fans to repost them across social media and send messages of support to me and my family all while the culprits behind the account make money. This is the downside of AI and yellow journalism. While it can be a wonderful tool in the right hands; it can be used as a weapon in the wrong hands”
Shatner claims the stories were being monetized.
“Most of the stories use an AI image of me,” he added.
The actor warned his followers not to believe any news about his health unless it appeared on his own verified social media pages.
But in a 2022 interview with Postmedia, Shatner said death was never far from his mind.
“As you get older, as I’m sure you can imagine, you think of death — it becomes more and more present,” he said at the time. “I’ve heard of people weeping, my father was incapacitated, he had had a stroke and he had tears in his eyes and I wonder quite often what he was crying about. Was he crying about leaving? I loved him very much and he loved me. Was he weeping because of me and leaving this world?”
The notion informed how he bid farewell to Captain James T. Kirk in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations.
“So when this character was dying, I thought, ‘How do you die?'” Shatner said. “I thought, ‘How would Captain Kirk die?’ Captain Kirk, who has faced death so often. I thought he would look at death approaching with the same awe and wonder that he looked at these strange beings that he faced in the years I played him. I wanted him to look at death as something filled with the awe and wonder that he looked at the universe.”
mdaniell@postmedia.com
No Time But Now | William Shatner & Melanie Shatner Gretsch
William Shatner and Melanie Shatner Gretsch explore health, longevity, resilience, and healing through expert insight, humor, and personal stories.
notimebutnow.com
http://people.com/william-shatner-daughter-melanie-fought-stage-4-cancer-together-exclusive-12023877
William Shatner and his daughter reveal they both fought Stage 4 cancer
William Shatner has revealed that he and his daughter, Melanie Shatner Gretsch, both battled Stage 4 cancer over the past few years. More.