Czech-American tennis legend Martina Navratilova was diagnosed with stage 1 throat cancer and early breast cancer. She announced her doctors’ findings on Monday, Jan. 2, but believes her prognosis is favorable.
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“This double blow is serious, but still fixable. We hope for a positive outcome.” Navratilova said. “It will stink for a while, but I will fight with all my might.”
Netizens are pouring their love into the 66-year-old, including a certain sports personality. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Kurt Schilling expressed his support by tweeting that he always believed in Navratilova. “We personified class on the court.“
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The 59-time Grand Slam titleholder was diagnosed with breast cancer in situ in 2010, but was treated to be cancer-free.
Why Kurt Schilling’s reaction is heartwarming
For those uninformed, Schilling announced his battle with oral cancer less than a decade later and is still alive today. After announcing her treatment in February 2014, Schilling revealed her cancer was in remission in June of that year.
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Citing smokeless tobacco use as the cause of his illness, he said: “I believe without a doubt, without a doubt, that biting gave me cancer, and I’m not going to get up off my pedestal and preach about biting. I’ll say this: I’ve been doing so for about 30 years. It was an addictive habit…”
Fans and stars share their support for Martina Navratilova
Schilling isn’t the only tennis star to speak out in support of Navratilova. Former World No. 1 professional tennis player Billie Jean King said-
Martina Navratilova, one of the greatest athletes of all time, was diagnosed with stage 1 throat cancer.
In addition, an unrelated form of breast cancer was found during the examination. Both cancers are in early stages and have great outcomes.
thinking of you, @martina ❤️
— Tennis (@Tennis) January 2, 2023
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Appreciating the reaction to the news, Navratilova tweeted:Needless to say, both my phone and Twitter are broken, so I’ll say it again. Thank you for your support. We’re not done yet.“
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watch this story – ‘It blew me off the court’ – Chris Evert reflects on surprising rivalry with Martina Navratilova and the negative impact of a 13-game losing streak
The tennis star has reportedly had to cancel her upcoming plans to join the Tennis Channel’s coverage of the Australian Open later this month. “Hopefully I can join in from time to time.“