HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with breast cancer, but her prognosis for recovery is said to be excellent.
Navratilova, 53, told People that she learned about the cancer in February during a routine mammogram.
"I cried," she said of her reaction when the biopsy came back positive. "It knocked me on my ass, really. I feel so in control of my life and my body, and then this comes, and it's completely out of my hands."
Navratilova was diagnosed with a non-invasive form of the disease called ductal carcinoma in situ, also referred to as DCIS. The cancer is said to be only located in her milk ducts and has not spread.
"It was the best-case scenario you could imagine for detecting breast cancer," Dr. Mindy Nagle, a good friend of Navratilova's, told the mag.
The nine-time Wimbledon champion has undergone a lumpectomy and will begin six weeks of radiation therapy in May.
"The prognosis of someone with DCIS is excellent," Dr. Shelley Hwang, a breast surgeon at UC San Francisco, told People. "There's only a one-percent chance of anyone with this diagnosis would die of breast cancer."
Navratilova admitted she was fortunate that her cancer was detected early and urged others to get regular check-ups.
"I went four years between mammograms," she said. "I let it slide. Everyone gets busy, but don't make excuses. I stay in shape and eat right, and it happened to me. Another year and I could have been in big trouble."
- Comment
