When the tennis champion was recently given the all-clear, he said, “It’s still hanging over your shoulder, no matter what.”.
Despite recently announcing her cancer-free status, tennis great Martina Navratilova’s battle with the illness had a significant psychological and physical impact.
The Real Housewives of Miami actress Julia Lemigova, Navratilova’s wife, and she discussed the 66-year-old’s health since receiving a throat and breast cancer diagnosis at the end of last year during a Monday appearance on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
It has been seven months of emotional and physical hell for me, she said, adding that I was diagnosed in early December and just recently received the all-clear.
The tennis champion remarked after being given the all-clear, “It’s still hanging over your shoulder, no matter what.”. The treatment, which included proton radiation therapy, was “horrendous,” Navratilova continued, even though her disease was largely curable. ”.
She said to the magazine, “Chemotherapy and radiation — it beat me up.”. “It was terribly brutal physically. It still hangs over your shoulder, no matter what happens. There’s no escaping it. Although I felt completely helpless, at least I had mental control. However, Julia couldn’t do anything about her predicament.
She had been terrified at first.
Both of us were terrified. ”.
'Seven months of hell, emotionally and physically.'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) July 17, 2023
Martina Navratilova describes her relief after getting the 'all clear' from cancer in June. pic.twitter.com/X1T6PDOy5u
Lemigova, who was at the time filming RHOM but “would come in and out” to be with her, provided her with support. Of course, she continued, “[friend and former tennis player] Chris Evert and I had essentially experienced the same thing and supported each other.”.
Navratilova added that she lost close to 25 pounds while competing. “It’s been challenging, but, knock on wood, I’m cancer-free now. ”.
Lemigova said that the incident altered her outlook on life during the interview. “A tragedy like this teaches you to view life differently. Take life as it comes and savor each moment. We’re dealing with Martina in a similar manner.
Every day we give thanks to God and express our gratitude, and as a result, we view life entirely differently.
”.
Thank you to “all the doctors, nurses, proton and radiation magicians, etc.,” said Navratilova. Following “a day full of tests at Sloan Kettering,” the nine-time Wimbledon champion tweeted on Twitter last month.
With a smile and the hashtags “byebyecancer:) and yes, f—cancer!!!,” she tweeted, “What a relief.”.
Navratilova acknowledged that despite being informed that her condition was “very” treatable, she was “in a total panic for three days thinking I might not see next Christmas. ”.
Lemigova recalled being by Navratilova’s side when she received the all-clear in an interview from March. “Throughout the good, bad, and ugly, I was there for her. Therefore, it is no secret that I was present when she received her cancer diagnosis. Of course I was there with her when she got the good news. I had no other option.
We had a celebration on that particular day.
”.
Former tennis rivals Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert talked about their friendship and recent cancer diagnoses in a Washington Post article earlier this month. After being informed that she had ovarian cancer, Evert recalled that one of the first people she told was Martina. When I called her, it was as if I were returning home. ”.
13 years after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, Navratilova received the all-clear in 2010. Regarding her initial diagnosis, Navratilova said, “It really knocked me on my ass. I suddenly lose control of my life and my body after feeling as though I had complete control before. ”.
