Tennis legend Martina Navratilova diagnosed with throat, breast cancer

Tennis great Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with two forms of cancer, according to a statement released Monday by her representative.

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The 66-year-old said the throat and breast cancers were caught at early stages after she noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck in November, during the World Tennis Association Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, BBC News reported. A biopsy determined that she had stage one throat cancer.

During the testing, a lump was also found in her breast, leading to an unrelated diagnosis of breast cancer, according to BBC News.

“The double whammy is serious, but fixable, and I’m hoping for a favourable outcome,” Navratilova said in a statement obtained by the news network. “It’s going to stink for a while, but I’ll fight with all I have got.”

Navratilova is scheduled to begin receiving treatment next week in New York, WTA Tennis reported. Her prognosis is said to be good, according to a statement obtained by CNN.

The 59-time Grand Slam champion — whose wins include 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam doubles titles and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles — was previously diagnosed with non-invasive breast cancer in 2010 and underwent a lumpectomy, The Associated Press reported. She retired in 1994 after winning a record 167 singles titles and spending 331 weeks at the top of WTA rankings, according to the AP. In 2000, she returned to the court to play doubles, and earned titles into her 40s, CNN reported.

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