TENNIS icon Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with two forms of cancer.
The 66-year-old confirmed she discovered an enlarged lymph node in her neck back in November.
Martina Navratilova has confirmed her cancer diagnosisCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles include Wimbledon nine timesCredit: AP:Associated Press
And, as reported by The Times, tests subsequently led to a suspicious form being found in her breast.
It comes 13 years after the Czech-American underwent radiation therapy for breast cancer and was given the all-clear.
Speaking about her diagnosis, she said: “This double whammy is serious but still fixable.
“I’m hoping for a favourable outcome. It’s going to stink for a while but I’ll fight with all I have got.”
A spokeswoman for the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion then added that “both these cancers are in early stage with great outcomes”.
Navratilova will undergo treatment on her stage one throat cancer caused by the human papillomavirus in January.
It is only located in one part of her throat and has not spread to her vocal chords.
Statistics show that 90 per cent of adults survive for five years or longer after catching stage one throat cancer.
No details have been released on the treatment of her breast cancer other than that it is “completely unrelated to the throat cancer”.
Following her diagnosis, Navratilova will not travel to Melbourne for punditry work at the Australian Open later this month.
However, she does plan to occasionally join the Tennis Channel team via video link from her Florida home.
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.
She was scheduled to be honoured at the 100th anniversary of Wimbledon last year, but was forced to cancel on the morning of the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
Dipping her toe into reality TV in 2008, she also came runner-up in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here behind Joe Swash.
Navratilova took part in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2008Credit: ITV