Pam Shriver rejoices Martina Navratilova's return to commentary after dual-cancer remission
Martina Navratilova began the year on a dreadful note by announcing a dual-cancer diagnosis in her throat and breast, 13 years after undergoing a lumpectomy to eliminate an early-stage cancerous aggregate in her left breast.
A swollen lymph node was identified in the 66-year-old's throat last November and was soon determined to be cancer. Subsequent medical tests revealed yet another cancerous development in the breast, and Navratilova was put under proton therapy treatment alongside chemotherapy in January.
The 18-time Grand Slam winner received promising news last week, with reports revealing the remission of the cancers. She announced the news during a recent interview with journalist Piers Morgan on TalkTV, elaborating on her distressing experience but eventually assuring that she is 'cancer-free'.
"I noticed that my left lymph node was enlarged and I thought it was from a shingles vaccine I’d had a week before," Navratilova said on TalkTv. "But then a couple of weeks on it didn’t go down so I called the doctor...Two more weeks of preventive radiation, I should be good to go. As far as they know, I’m cancer-free."
The tennis fraternity reacted jubilantly to the news, with icons like Billie Jean King and Pam Shriver sharing their congratulatory messages. Shriver, who won all but one of her 21 Major titles in women's doubles alongside Navratilova, rejoiced at her friend's return as a pundit and commentator for the ongoing Miami Open.
"This is a wonderful day!," exclaimed former World No. 3 whilst watching Martina Navratilova commentate during the 2023 Miami Open.
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This is a wonderful day! @TennisChannel @Martina 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏼 https://t.co/LGSsuUTz7F
"I was in a total panic for three days thinking I may not see next Christmas" - Martina Navratilova talks about horrifying experience with cancer diagnosis
Martina Navratilova's double-cancer diagnosis in early January of this year put her into rigorous proton therapy. The former World No. 1 opened up about the severe discomfort she felt in the interview with Piers Morgan, explaining how the dual impact of radiative proton treatment and chemotherapy gave her a rough three months.
"That was the hard part because the first week was both chemo and radiation at the same time,” she said. “I didn’t really feel the proton until week three, but then you get a sore mouth and your throat starts closing. Everything’s swollen and very uncomfortable, and the proton makes your saliva weird."
She further divulged that the news led to her preparing bucket lists to check off goals if she didn't have long left.
"I was in a total panic for three days thinking I may not see next Christmas.," Navratilova continued. "The bucket list came into my mind of all the things I wanted to do. And this may sound really shallow, but I was like, OK, ‘which kick-ass car do I really want to drive if I live like a year?'"
Martina Navratilova on the moment she was told about her double cancer diagnosis.
"I'm like, oh great I have another cancer. That's when I started crying on the table."
Watch the global EXCLUSIVE from 8pm TONIGHT on TalkTV.
@piersmorgan | @Martina | @TalkTV | #PMU https://t.co/ZFzRePc56v