Since Season 13, Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski has been a staple on Deadliest Catch. The unique series follows the high-stakes world of Alaskan King crabbing, but also provides insight into the individuals who brave the waters to do it. During Season 19, F/V Summer Bay captain revealed some very intimate and personal news. Wichrowski revealed that he had prostate cancer.
Despite being a season apart, Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski was forced to leave the Season 20 crabbing season early for cancer treatment. Many fans were worried about his health and what it might mean for his future on the show. Thankfully, he has revealed that he is doing better thanks to radioactive seeds and hormone treatment and “seems to be cancer-free now.” Deadliest Catch is a show that shares the scary things at sea, but sometimes it’s the personal stories that are the scariest. Captain “Wild” Bill is living proof that you can beat fear, thanks to his inspiring journey documented on Deadliest Catch.
Everything Changed for Captain “Wild” Bill After His Cancer Diagnosis
Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski has endured immense pain throughout his tenure on Deadliest Catch. He lost his deck boss, Nick McGlashan, in 2020 at the age of 33. Featured predominantly on the series together, Wichrowski considered Nick like a son. Nick McGlashan lost his battle to addiction after passing due to a drug overdose. While it didn’t occur during the show, the reaction to his passing was captured on Deadliest Catch.
Last year, the Summer Bay skipper allowed the cameras to capture his cancer journey in a manner some may not have had an opportunity to do. At the tail end of Season 19, Deadliest Catch transported audiences off the ocean and into the oncology ward as Wichrowski awaited the test results. Upon learning that he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer, it was highly recommended that he undergo a combined course of chemotherapy and hormone treatments to handle the disease. With his fate hanging in the balance, more was revealed a season later.
Leading into Season 20, Deadliest Catch fans were tuned into how the beloved skipper was handling the diagnosis. He said, “When I heard it,” Wichrowski says of the diagnosis, “one of the things I thought was, ‘You know what? I’m not going to stop [fishing]. I’m going to keep going until I actually can’t.’ How many people get diagnosed with this, and they just shut down and crawl into a shell? And it just makes it worse.” From there, he went on to start his cancer treatments, with everything out in the public. The cameras captured it all. This personal and intimate sharing gave Wichrowski an opportunity to connect with Deadliest Catch fans on a completely different level. Not everyone watching has experienced life out at sea, but many more know someone, or are themselves, who has had cancer. Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski said during Season 20, “I was hoping that the fact that I kept going, it would show people that if you have this, you can keep working. You can keep your life moving.”
‘Deadliest Catch’ Has Inspired Others Because of Captain “Wild” Bill
While he worked as hard as he could, Wichrowski had to end his season early and pass the helm of F/V Summer Bay to his crew so that he could undergo his treatment. Literally steering the ship, cameras watched as Wichrowski got the brutal news that if he didn’t attend his next appointment, it could be a potential death sentence. With a necessary operation days away, he made the difficult decision to walk away in the middle of the season when his quota couldn’t be fulfilled. Viewers were able to see the turmoil Wichrowski was experiencing at the moment, but he was not going to risk his life for this job. For many, that may be a tough pill to swallow, but his ability to admit defeat is admirable. He handed the wheel to Landon Cheney, passing off trust to the young Deck Boss. In times of need, asking for help from those you trust is important.
As he said when he found out about his cancer diagnosis, “I’m willing to put it out there to let people see the journey in hopes of convincing some people to get tested.” From what we’ve seen, his story has been an inspiration. Recently, Wichrowski took to Facebook to share an important update. In a slightly grammatically incorrect and misspelled post, he wrote, “Lots of folks asking about cancer treatment progress. Recap, Radioactive seeds and hormone treatment. Happy to say numbers are great. Not complaining purely about information. The hormone thing is necessary but for me, not w/o issues. Testerone drops to near zero by design. You can google the results of that. I seem to be cancer-free now. I have always felt 10-15 years younger than my age. The job I have and being around crew 1/2 my age. Feels like the clock has caught up. Maybe a small price to pay. Thanks for concern and best wishes. If you have symptoms, get checked.”
Fishing is his life, and he does not want to put it behind him. Yet he’s been grateful to have the cameras follow him on his cancer journey as it has inspired others and connected him to individuals in a similar situation. For now, Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski has no plans of stopping. He is trucking along, not allowing his cancer diagnosis and treatment to prevent him from doing what he loves.
