Martina Navratilova diagnosed with Stage 1 throat cancer; early-stage breast cancer rediscovered

Martina Navratilova, one of the greatest athletes in history, has been diagnosed with Stage 1 throat cancer.

In addition, an unrelated form of breast cancer, still in its early stages, was discovered during throat examinations. Navratilova was previously diagnosed with non-invasive breast cancer—ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS—in 2010.

“This double whammy is serious but still fixable, and I’m hoping for a favorable outcome,” Navratilova said. “It’s going to stink for a while, but I’ll fight with all have I got.”

The 66-year-old will begin treatment this month, with a strong prognosis considering a history of positive outcomes for these cancers. The throat cancer is type HPV, which responds well to treatment. Six months after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2010, Navratilova was deemed cancer-free following a lumpectomy and six weeks of radiation.

“I really didn’t talk much about breast cancer before I had it,” Navratilova told PEOPLE. “Now, I’m approached by women and we share our stories. It’s encouraging to see that there’s life after cancer.”

Navratilova’s life has been a series of challenges and triumphs, on and off the court. The fact that her non-tennis challenges are mentioned alongside her astonishing athletic accomplishments speaks to their gravity. This is, after all, a 59-time Grand Slam champion across singles, doubles and mixed events, and a top-level competitor from the mid-1970s to the mid-2000s. (In her very last tournament, the 2006 US Open, Navratilova won the mixed doubles tournament with Bob Bryan.)

There was her defection from Czechoslovakia to the United States, after her semifinal loss at the 1975 US Open. Even in defeat, Navratilova managed a victory.

“I had no idea what a splash it would be,” she would say later, remembering that era of famous Cold War defectors. “After Baryshnikov, there was Navratilova.”

There was her being outed as gay in 1981. As Johnette Howard, biographer of Navratilova and Chris Evert, wrote 30 years later on the WTA’s website, “…once she was outed, people wanted her to keep quiet, stay closeted, not reveal her true self. She refused to be cowed then, or since.”

Simple rule: when Martina fights, she wins, and she again has our full support and whatever she needs from us as she faces and ultimately defeats this challenge. We know she will. Tennis Channel

Navratilova will contend with this latest challenge in her own, unique way—but with the support of untold numbers of cancer survivors, legions of fans and, of course, her loving family and friends. That includes her extended family at Tennis Channel, where her nonpareil analysis of the sport has been featured since 2007 (the year of the network began broadcasting Grand Slam tournaments).

“Martina Navratilova is a longtime member of our Tennis Channel family, an inspiration and a dear friend,” a statement from the network read. “While we’re obviously disappointed to learn of the recurrence in her battle with cancer, we’re similarly encouraged by the memory of her successful fight with the disease in 2010. Not only was she our lead on-air analyst and never skipped a beat in Paris during the French Open while getting treatment, she also won the event’s Legends Tournament for good measure. Simple rule: when Martina fights, she wins, and she again has our full support and whatever she needs from us as she faces and ultimately defeats this challenge. We know she will.”

While Navratilova won’t cover the upcoming Australian Open in studio, she hopes to join the team via video conferencing from time to time.

Even in absence, Navratilova will remain a presence.

It was at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, last November, where Navratilova noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck. When it didn’t go down, a biopsy was performed, and the results came back as Stage 1 throat cancer.

It was also in Fort Worth where Navratilova regaled a room of colleagues, admirers and friends with her signature wit and candor. Steaks and stories were shared, as Martina, after all she’s achieved and gone through, remained the object of affection—most of all from her Miniature Dachshund and traveling companion, Lulu.

That affection will only intensify during this latest battle. But as sure as Lulu getting credentialed at the next Slam that Navratilova attends in person, Martina will fight this with all she has. On and off the court, she doesn’t know any other way.