Martina Navratilova Unveils Heart-Wrenching Journey Through 7 Months of Cancer Hell

The famous tennis champion, Martina Navratilova, shared that she has received a clean bill of health. However, she mentioned, “The experience still lingers in your thoughts, no matter what.”

Martina Navratilova, a tennis icon, recently announced that she has beaten cancer. Yet, the battle took a significant toll on her both mentally and physically.

Navratilova made an appearance on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday, joining her wife, Julia Lemigova, an actress from Real Housewives of Miami. They discussed the 66-year-old athlete’s journey to recovery after being diagnosed with throat and breast cancer towards the end of the previous year.

“It’s been seven months of sheer emotional and physical turmoil for me,” she shared. “I was diagnosed in early December and only recently got the good news.”

Even after receiving the all-clear, the tennis champion acknowledged, “The weight of it still lingers, no matter what.” Despite the high likelihood of recovery, the treatment, which included proton radiation therapy, was incredibly grueling, Navratilova explained.

Reflecting on her experience, she said, “Chemotherapy and radiation — they really took a toll on me. It was incredibly tough physically. The shadow of it still hangs, no matter what. There’s no escaping it. Though I felt utterly powerless, at least I retained some mental control. However, Julia was helpless in her situation. She was initially terrified. Both of us were.”

While filming RHOM at the time, Lemigova made it a point to be there for her, providing crucial support. “Chris Evert, a dear friend and former tennis player, went through a similar ordeal and we leaned on each other,” she added.

Navratilova mentioned that she shed nearly 25 pounds during her battle on the court. “It’s been a tough journey, but thankfully, I’m now free from cancer,” she said, tapping on wood for luck.

During the interview, Lemigova shared how the experience altered her perspective on life. “A tragedy like this reshapes how you see the world. It teaches you to take life as it comes, to savor every moment. We’ve been approaching Martina’s journey in the same way. Each day, we thank God and cherish life in an entirely new light.”

Navratilova expressed her gratitude to “all the doctors, nurses, and the amazing specialists in proton and radiation therapy.” After a day packed with tests at Sloan Kettering last month, the nine-time Wimbledon champion tweeted, sporting a smile and the hashtags “byebyecancer :)” and “yes, f—cancer!!!” She wrote, “What a relief.”

Despite being assured that her condition was highly treatable, Navratilova admitted, “For three days, I was in a complete panic, fearing I might not see the next Christmas.”

In a March interview, Lemigova reminisced about standing by Navratilova’s side when she received the all-clear. “Through thick and thin, I stood by her. So, it’s no surprise I was there when she got her cancer diagnosis. And naturally, I was there to share the good news. I didn’t have a choice. We had a celebration on that special day.”

In a recent Washington Post article, former tennis rivals Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert opened up about their friendship and their recent battles with cancer. Evert recalled that Martina was one of the first people she confided in when she learned about her ovarian cancer. Calling her felt like going back to a safe haven.

Navratilova received her all-clear in 2010, 13 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She revealed that her initial diagnosis “really shook me to the core. Suddenly, I lost control over my life and my body, after feeling like I had complete command before.”