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Health

03rd Jan 2023

Martina Navratilova diagnosed with throat and breast cancer

Sarah McKenna Barry

She will undergo treatment soon.

Tennis champion Martina Navratilova has shared that she has been diagnosed with throat and breast cancer.

A statement shared on Navratilova’s behalf described her prognosis as “good”.

It read: “Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with stage one throat cancer. The prognosis is good and Martina will start her treatment this month.

“The cancer type is HPV and this particular type responds really well to treatment. Martina noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck during the WTA finals in Fort Worth. When it didn’t go down, a biopsy was performed, the results came back as stage one throat cancer

“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 these cancers are in their early stages with great outcomes. Martina won’t be covering the Australian Open for Tennis Channel from their studio but hopes to be able to join in from time to time by Zoom.”

She has since thanked fans for sending her messages of support.

On Twitter, she wrote: “Needless to say my phone and Twitter are both blowing up so I will say again- thank you for all your support and I am not done yet.”

The tennis player’s wife Julia Lemigova also thanked Martina’s fans for their support.

In a post on Instagram, she wrote: “Thank you to everyone who has reached out to share words of support. Together we will fight this.”

Martina is generally considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Her career saw her win 18 major singles titles, 31 major women’s doubles titles and 10 major mixed doubles titles.

For more information on various types of cancer, head to the HSE’s website right here.

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