Martina Navratilova Diagnosed with Throat Cancer and Second Breast Cancer: 'Hoping for a Favorable Outcome'

Martina Navaratilova Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer: ‘Hoping for a Favorable Outcome’
Martina Navaratilova Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer: ‘Hoping for a Favorable Outcome’
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Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has two cancer diagnoses.

A spokesperson for the nine-time Wimbledon champion's confirmed to PEOPLE that Navratilova has been diagnosed with both stage 1 throat and breast cancer, after seeking medical attention for an enlarged lymph node in her neck.

Navratilova, 66, told The Sunday Times she's processing the dual diagnosis with hope for a positive outcome. "This double whammy is serious but still fixable," she said. "I'm hoping for a favorable outcome. It's going to stink for a while but I'll fight with all I have got."

Martina Navaratilova Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer: ‘Hoping for a Favorable Outcome’
Martina Navaratilova Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer: ‘Hoping for a Favorable Outcome’

Hector Vivas/Getty Images

RELATED: Martina Navratilova on Tennis' 'New Normal' Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

The spokesperson added to PEOPLE, "The cancer type is HPV and this particular type responds really well to treatment," later stating that the breast cancer is "completely unrelated to the throat cancer. Both of these cancers are in their early stages."

Because of the recent diagnoses, "Martina won't be covering the Aussie Open for Tennis Channel from their studio but hopes to be able to join in from time to time by Zoom," they added.

The diagnoses come 13 years after Navratilova first recovered from breast cancer. She previously spoke on her first cancer diagnosis in an advocacy piece for the My Time Our Time campaign by Novartis. "You realize your life can change in a nanosecond, so that seize the day thing definitely applies," she said.

Of her time in treatment, she said, "Being a positive person helped a lot, and surround yourself with positive people as well."

Martina Navaratilova Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer: ‘Hoping for a Favorable Outcome’
Martina Navaratilova Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer: ‘Hoping for a Favorable Outcome’

Paul Morigi/Getty Images

RELATED: Martina Navratilova Has Breast Cancer

At the time of her first breast cancer diagnosis, Navratilova told PEOPLE she "cried" upon receiving the news. "It knocked me on my ass, really. I feel so in control of my life and my body, and then this comes, and it's completely out of my hands."

In September 2010, she announced she was officially cancer free.

Navratilova became the first person to win Wimbeldon's singles category nine times — beating a previous record of eight all-time championships with her win in 1990. She won the coveted tournament an additional 11 times in two doubles categories.

Martina Navaratilova Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer: ‘Hoping for a Favorable Outcome’
Martina Navaratilova Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer: ‘Hoping for a Favorable Outcome’

Trevor Jones/Getty Images

"What I'm most proud of is I won singles and doubles in the same event 80 times," she said in the Novartis video.

Navratilova — who is a dual American-Czech citizen — married Julia Lemigova in 2014. The 50-year-old model is a Housewife on The Real Housewives of Miami, and Navratilova appears on the series occasionally as well.

RHOM aired its fifth season on Dec. 8 and is available to stream on Peacock.

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