Martina Navratilova was diagnosed with throat and breast cancer

NEW YORK (AP) — Tennis great Martina Navratilova said Monday that she has been diagnosed with throat cancer and breast cancer.

In a statement issued by her representative, the 18-time Grand Slam champion and inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame said her prognosis was good and she would begin treatment this month.

“This double noise is serious, but it can still be resolved and I hope for a favorable outcome,” Navratilova, 66, said. “You’re going to take a while, but I’m going to fight with everything I’ve got.”

She said she noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck while attending the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, in November, and a biopsy showed early-stage neck cancer. While Navratilova was undergoing tests on her neck, she said, an unrelated breast cancer was discovered.

Navratilova was diagnosed with a non-invasive form of breast cancer in 2010 and underwent a lumpectomy.

She has won 59 Grand Slam titles, including 31 in women’s doubles and 10 in mixed doubles. His most recent was a mixed doubles championship with Bob Bryan at the 2006 US Open, a month before his 50th birthday.

Navratilova initially retired in 1994 after a record 167 singles titles and 331 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings. He returned to the tour to play doubles in 2000 and also occasionally competed in singles.

Navratilova was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000. In recent years, she has worked as a television analyst.

The statement released Monday said Navratilova will not be a regular part of Tennis Channel’s coverage of the Australian Open later this month “but hopes to be able to join from time to time” via video conference.

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