Martina Navratilova is one of the greatest players in the history of women’s tennis. But even the legendary player could not avoid a diagnosis of cancer twice in her life. Both times they came as a surprise, but the player had the support of the world to tackle it each time. Taking on the horrifying illness twice requires a strong mind. Recently, she revealed how her experience as a player shaped her reaction to the diagnosis.

When cancer came knocking on the door, Navratilova was not the only one who had to deal with it. Her wife, Julia Lemigova, was with her every step of the way. After Navratilova was rid of the disease, Lemigova even gave her a full makeover as a celebration.

Martina Navratilova on dealing with cancer with a player’s mindset

Navratilova was diagnosed with two forms of cancer at the same time at the end of last year. After being diagnosed with Stage 1 throat cancer, her doctors performed a biopsy to determine the exact location of the cancer, and they detected a lump on her breast. They found breast cancer in its early stages. While daunting, Navratilova’s years of training into a player’s mindset helped her deal with it.

In an interview with Fox Business, Navratilova revealed how her experiences as a player shaped her mind to tackle cancer. “As an athlete, we’re used to positive thinking and not quitting and having that attitude that I’m going to win, literally,” Navratilova said. “When this came, I’m like, ‘No, no, no, I’m not dying from this.'”

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Navratilova was not alone when dealing with the diagnosis of the cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones while tackling the life-changing illness. When she overcame it, the celebration included all her loved ones, especially her wife.

18-time Grand Slam singles champion Navratilova gets makeover after overcoming cancer

Battling cancer of any kind is a situation in which no one hopes to find themselves. Facing two types of cancer is something people don’t even imagine. When Navratilova overcame her most recent dual diagnosis of breast and throat cancer, joy returned to her life after the arduous battle. To celebrate her victory, her wife and former Miss USSR, Julia Lemigova, took her for a haircut.

Navratilova shared their little moment of joy on Instagram. She also added a caption that talked about how a haircut may be a small step, but it was a big deal for the tennis legend. Overcoming cancer twice is a highly difficult task. But having the love and support of her wife and the mindset of a champion helped Navratilova achieve an overarching victory. 

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