He lost both parents young, then faced cancer himself. Superman star, Christopher Reeves' son Will reveals the lesson his father and mom left him

Will Reeve has spent much of his life carrying the legacy of two remarkable parents. His father, Superman star Christopher Reeve, became an advocate for spinal-cord-injury research after a riding accident left him paralysed neck down, while his mother, Dana Reeve, continued that work before her death from lung cancer at 44. Now, years after losing both parents, Will has faced a serious health battle of his own. He recently opened up about his diagnosis of testicular cancer and shared how he was inspired by his parents which shaped the way he approached and dealt with the difficult time of his life.

Christopher Reeve’s son Will Reeve opens up about cancer battle

Will Reeve, son of late actor Christopher Reeve and Dana Reeve, is cancer-free after undergoing months of treatment for testicular cancer. Recently, the son of Superman actor, opened up about his diagnosis publicly for the first time after a recent checkup confirmed that he was currently cancer-free. For Will, sharing the experience was about more than announcing the end of his treatment. He said his decision was partly inspired by the example set by his parents, who were open about their own health struggles and used their experiences to help others.

He shared that he "felt so loved and supported" and that being surrounded by family, beloved friends and strangers helped him. The support was a bigger reason why he further wanted to speak about his cancer diagnosis.

Will Reeve shares his cancer timeline

In an Instagram post, Will also laid out the timeline of his diagnosis and treatment to clear up confusion surrounding his health journey. He wrote that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April, followed by his first surgery in May. His second surgery took place in June, while chemotherapy followed in July. By September, he was able to share the update he had been hoping for: “Today: currently cancer free!” He also thanked people for their support and said he was glad to have the experience “in my rear view.

Will Reeve was just 13 when he lost his mother

Will's latest health battle comes after a childhood marked by extraordinary loss. He was quite young when his father, Christopher Reeve, was thrown from a horse and became paralysed from the neck down. Christopher subsequently dedicated much of his life to raising awareness about spinal-cord injuries. He along with his wife, Dana, helped launch the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. Christopher died in 2004 and two years later, Will lost his mother to lung cancer at 44.

Will was 13 when his mother died and was subsequently raised by the parents of his best friend, who lived across the street.

His parents’ example shaped how he faced cancer

Decades later, Will found himself confronting a major health challenge of his own. Test results showed that 95% of the testicular cancer discovered was embryonal carcinoma, an aggressive form of the disease. His treatment involved significant surgery. He underwent a six-hour operation to remove dozens of lymph nodes from his abdomen. Three of those lymph nodes tested positive for testicular cancer.

The results meant that he needed two rounds of chemotherapy.