Ace Tennis player great Martina Navratilova diagnosed with throat and breast cancer
Tennis great Martina Navrátilová was diagnosed with throat and breast cancer Martina Navrátilová, a former world-ranked tennis player, revealed on Monday that she had been diagnosed with breast and throat cancer. With 59 Grand Slam singles and doubles championships, the Czech American is considered one of the greatest players of all time.
“This double blow is serious but still repairable,” the 66-year-old said in a statement to the WTA. “I’m hoping for a favorable outcome. It’s going to stink for a while, but I’m going to fight with everything I’ve got.” Czech-born Navrátilová, who became an American citizen in 1981, was also diagnosed with and defeated breast cancer back in 2010. Navrátilová added that the cancer is stage 1 and the prognosis is good, and treatment will begin next week.
The cancer was first discovered in early November during the WTA Finals when Navratilova noticed swelling on her neck that would not go down. “Martina noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck during the WTA Finals in Forth Worth,” said Navratilova’s representative Mary Greenham. “When it didn’t go away, a biopsy was done, the results came back as stage 1 throat cancer.
At the same time that Martina was undergoing tests on her throat, a suspicious lump was found in her breast, which was subsequently diagnosed as cancer, completely unrelated to the throat cancer. “Both of these cancers are in the early stages with great outcomes.” Greenham said Navratilova, who now works as a television and radio tennis presenter, will not travel to Melbourne for the 16-29 Australian Open. January, but hopes to contribute to broadcasting. “Martina will not be covering the Aussie Open for the Tennis Channel from their studio, but hopes to join in via Zoom from time to time,” Greenham said.
