‘I am not done yet’: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova diagnosed with throat and breast cancer
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The world of tennis was recently rocked by the news that legendary athlete Martina Navratilova had been diagnosed with both throat and breast cancer.
The 66-year-old who now works as a tennis commentator revealed that she had discovered a swollen lymph node in her neck while at the Women’s Tennis Association Finals in Texas, USA.
While undergoing testing for the mass, doctors also discovered an unrelated breast cancer, according to reports.
Fortunately, it appears that the two cancers are both at an early stage, with the throat cancer found to be in its first stage.
On Twitter, she shared the saddening news and thanked people for their words of encouragement.
‘My phone and Twitter are both blowing up… thank you for all your support, and I am not done yet,’ she said.
Navratilova’s agent Mary Greenham said the tennis great’s throat cancer was caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
She also expressed optimism despite the development.
‘The prognosis is good,’ Greenham said. ‘Both these cancers are in their early stages with great outcomes.’
As daunting as the news seems, this is not the first time Navratilova will be facing cancer.
In 2010, she underwent surgery and brief radiotherapy after a routine mammogram discovered a tumour in her breast. She was given a clean bill of health from the episode.
Navratilova was born in 1956 in Prague.
Her early days saw her rise to tennis superstardom, with her winning her first professional singles title in the US in 1974 at 18 years old.
At the same age, she made the life-changing decision to switch allegiances to the US.
‘I stuck it to the communist regime by leaving and succeeding. But it was a one-way ticket, so I lost all that time with my family that I could never get back, and it was brutal,’ Navratilova said in one interview.
And indeed she did succeed, as she has 59 major tennis tournament wins, 18 of which are Grand Slam singles titles, under her belt (or tennis shoes — wherever tennis players are said to store their accolades).
Navratilova also has the distinction of being the first ever tennis player to earn $10 million USD (around $14.7 million AUD in today’s exchange) in her career.
Remind us not to get on this tennis titan’s bad side!
Now, on the topic of throat and breast cancers, what should we watch out for?
According to Cancer Council, symptoms of throat cancer include:
Risk factors for developing throat cancer include smoking, excessive alcohol intake, HPV, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), poor diet, and a family history of cancer.
In Australia, sixty per cent of throat cancers are caused by smoking, while thirty per cent are caused by excessive drinking of alcohol.
People diagnosed with head and neck cancers, which throat cancers are classified under, have a 72 per cent chance of surviving five years after diagnosis according to government statistics.
Meanwhile, here are some breast cancer symptoms to watch out for:
Like throat cancer, risk factors for breast cancer also include alcohol, smoking, and family history. Obesity is also associated with a greater risk of developing cancer.
In terms of survival rates, breast cancer has a more optimistic outlook with 92 per cent of Aussies diagnosed with the disease living for at least five years after diagnosis.
For all cancers though, early detection is key!
That’s why it is so important to keep an eye out for the common warning signs we’ve listed above.
If you know you’re at a higher risk of getting cancer or experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to see a doctor for professional medical advice.
In related news, some experts have said that a cancer vaccine might be available by 2030. Read here for more!
What are your thoughts on Martina’s story? We want to hear from you in the comments below!
Source: YouTube/United States Tennis Association
The 66-year-old who now works as a tennis commentator revealed that she had discovered a swollen lymph node in her neck while at the Women’s Tennis Association Finals in Texas, USA.
While undergoing testing for the mass, doctors also discovered an unrelated breast cancer, according to reports.
Fortunately, it appears that the two cancers are both at an early stage, with the throat cancer found to be in its first stage.
On Twitter, she shared the saddening news and thanked people for their words of encouragement.
‘My phone and Twitter are both blowing up… thank you for all your support, and I am not done yet,’ she said.
Navratilova’s agent Mary Greenham said the tennis great’s throat cancer was caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
She also expressed optimism despite the development.
Navratilova is hailed as one of the greatest athletes to play tennis. Image Credit: Topcourt.com
‘The prognosis is good,’ Greenham said. ‘Both these cancers are in their early stages with great outcomes.’
As daunting as the news seems, this is not the first time Navratilova will be facing cancer.
In 2010, she underwent surgery and brief radiotherapy after a routine mammogram discovered a tumour in her breast. She was given a clean bill of health from the episode.
Navratilova was born in 1956 in Prague.
At the same age, she made the life-changing decision to switch allegiances to the US.
Navratilova, shown here kissed by her wife Julia, is also a member and advocate of the LGBTQ+ community. Image Credit: Instagram/@martinanavratilova
‘I stuck it to the communist regime by leaving and succeeding. But it was a one-way ticket, so I lost all that time with my family that I could never get back, and it was brutal,’ Navratilova said in one interview.
And indeed she did succeed, as she has 59 major tennis tournament wins, 18 of which are Grand Slam singles titles, under her belt (or tennis shoes — wherever tennis players are said to store their accolades).
Navratilova also has the distinction of being the first ever tennis player to earn $10 million USD (around $14.7 million AUD in today’s exchange) in her career.
Remind us not to get on this tennis titan’s bad side!
Now, on the topic of throat and breast cancers, what should we watch out for?
According to Cancer Council, symptoms of throat cancer include:
- Persistent sore throat or cough
- Throat pain
- Changes to the voice, hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lumps in the neck or throat
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss
- Shortness of breath
Risk factors for developing throat cancer include smoking, excessive alcohol intake, HPV, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), poor diet, and a family history of cancer.
In Australia, sixty per cent of throat cancers are caused by smoking, while thirty per cent are caused by excessive drinking of alcohol.
People diagnosed with head and neck cancers, which throat cancers are classified under, have a 72 per cent chance of surviving five years after diagnosis according to government statistics.
A persistent sore and painful throat could signal something worse. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Gustavo Fring
Meanwhile, here are some breast cancer symptoms to watch out for:
- A lump or patch of thickened tissue in the breast/s
- A change in size in one or both of the breasts
- Discomfort or swelling in the armpits
- A marked change in the appearance of breasts, including inversion of the nipple and dimpling of the skin
Like throat cancer, risk factors for breast cancer also include alcohol, smoking, and family history. Obesity is also associated with a greater risk of developing cancer.
In terms of survival rates, breast cancer has a more optimistic outlook with 92 per cent of Aussies diagnosed with the disease living for at least five years after diagnosis.
For all cancers though, early detection is key!
That’s why it is so important to keep an eye out for the common warning signs we’ve listed above.
If you know you’re at a higher risk of getting cancer or experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to see a doctor for professional medical advice.
In related news, some experts have said that a cancer vaccine might be available by 2030. Read here for more!
What are your thoughts on Martina’s story? We want to hear from you in the comments below!
Source: YouTube/United States Tennis Association
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