Tennis legend Martina Navratilova opens up on cancer battle and reveals she has had two surgeries and four biopsies
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA was in good spirits as she opened up on her battle with cancer.
The tennis legend, 66, was revealed to be suffering with breast and throat cancer earlier this month.
But she vowed to fight on after previously battling breast cancer 13 years ago before being given the all-clear.
Navratilova has now reaffirmed that standpoint by stating she is ready for the next stage of treatment.
She has already undergone two surgeries and faces more radiation treatment, but that has not prevented her from planning a return to the court.
In an interview with Tennis Channel Navratilova said: “Ya I’m ready to go. Ready to get on with the treatment.
“I’ve had two surgeries and four biopsies and radiation and chemo, I’m waiting. But I’m ready to go.
“And I’m ready to go in other ways as well. Once I get to play again, I’ve got my squeezy thingy here.
“I just found these Wimbledon resistance bands in my grocery bag – I don’t know how they got there. And I have my water bottle as usual. So, I’m ready to go.”
Following her diagnosis, Navratilova will not travel to Melbourne for punditry work at the Australian Open.
However the 18-time Grand Slam champion will occasionally provide analysis for Tennis Channel and she was asked who she thinks will end the year with the most Grand Slams – Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.
The Czech-American backed Djokovic to win three out of four majors, tipping Nadal to win the French Open title for an incredible 15th time.
Navratilova’s incredible tennis career spanned 32 years from 1974 to 2006.
She won a remarkable 59 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles.
And she has claimed more Wimbledon singles titles than any other player in history – winning the tournament nine times between 1978 and 1990.
Navratilova is also one of just three players – alongside Margaret Court and Doris Hart – to secure a career Grand Slam in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Breast Cancer
Guidance from the NHS states that breast cancer can have several symptoms, with the first usually being a lump or a thickened area of breast tissue.
You should contact your GP if you notice any of the below:
1) A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
2) Discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood
3) A lump or swelling in either of your armpits
4) Dimpling on the skin of your breasts
5) A rash on or around your nipple
6) A change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast.
Data from Breast Cancer Now states that the illness is the most common cancer in the UK.
Throat cancer
Head and neck cancers are responsible for over 4,000 deaths a year in the UK, figures from Cancer Research UK states.
There are different types, including mouth, voice box and those affecting the thyroid gland.
Throat cancer is a head and neck cancer and the charity states that most of the time, symptoms of the illness are similar to much less serious conditions.
However, there are over 12,000 cases a year, so it’s important to know the signs of the disease.
The charity said that there are eight symptoms you need to be aware of.
These are:
1) Ear pain
2) Asore throat
3) A lump in the neck
4) Difficulty swallowing
5) Unexplained weight loss
6) A cough
7) Shortness of breath
8) A feeling of something stuck in the throat