TENNIS great Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with both throat and breast cancer, it was revealed today.
The 66-year-old legend announced today that the two cancers were diagnosed at an early stage.
Czech-American Navratilova, who won 18 women’s singles Grand Slam titles, previously had breast cancer in 2010.
She will start treatment in New York later in January.
“The double whammy is serious, but fixable, and I’m hoping for a favourable outcome,” she told reporters.
“It’s going to stink for a while, but I’ll fight with all I have got.”
Navratilova said she noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck during November’s WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.
A subsequent biopsy revealed stage one throat cancer.
During the tests, a lump was also discovered in her breast, which was later diagnosed as an unrelated cancer.
Navratilova was due to work as a pundit at the Australian Open later this month from the Tennis Channel studio, but will instead make some occasional remote appearances.
The nine-time Wimbledon singles champion said she felt ‘helpless’ after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, but decided to go public with the news to help other women suffering similar health problems.
