Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with two different types of cancer
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with two different types of cancer.
The nine-time Wimbledon champion went in for a check-up after discovering a swollen lymph node in her neck two months ago, according to the Daily Mail.
After doing some tests, doctors revealed she is now suffering simultaneously with throat and breast cancer.
The Czech-American former athlete said in a statement: “This double whammy is serious but still fixable, and I’m hoping for a favourable outcome.
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“It’s going to stink for a while, but I’ll fight with all have I got.”
News Corp says she will begin treatment next month.
"I'm hoping for a favourable outcome. It's going to stink for a while, but I'll fight with all I have got," she added.
The swollen lymph node was first detected in November during the WTA finals when the swelling didn't go down after a while.
Her representative, Mary Greenham, said Martina thought it would be best to get it checked out just in case it was something sinister.
"When it didn't go down, a biopsy was performed, the results came back as stage 1 throat cancer," Mary said.
"At the same time as Martina was undergoing the tests for the throat, a suspicious form was found in her breast, which was subsequently diagnosed as cancer, completely unrelated to the throat cancer.
"Both of these cancers are in their early stages with great outcomes."
Martina has already overcome breast cancer once before after she was diagnosed with the disease back in 2010.
The New York Post says she underwent six months of radiation and a lumpectomy before eventually been declared cancer-free.
The 66-year-old was all set to come down under for the Australian Open, which kicks off on January 16.
She was meant to do some radio and television work for the annual tournament, according to the ABC, however she will now do that remotely to not put further strain on her body.
Topics: Tennis
Stewart Perrie