"Lulu and Tennis" - Martina Navratilova on how she is passing the time while she fights her battle with cancer at the hospital

Martina Navratilova recently revealed that she was diagnosed with cancer. The Czech-American tennis legend, who successfully battled previously diagnosed breast cancer in 2010, was diagnosed with breast cancer yet again, along with stage one throat cancer this time around.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion revealed the unfortunate news in a statement in January. She said that while the diagnosis was serious, she was determined to fight the illness with everything she's got.

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

The former athlete’s treatment is now underway, and she has revealed that she has very special company to ease her suffering in the hospital. Martina Navratilova, who is frequently seen taking her pet Miniature Dachshund named Lulu to her work commitments, recently posted an adorable picture of the pet dog accompanying her during her trip to the hospital. The tennis icon was also seen watching the thrilling Qatar Open quarterfinal encounter between former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev and Australian player Christopher O’Connell.

“Lulu and Tennis Channel helping me pass the time in the hospital :)” Navratilova tweeted.

Martina Navratilova was flooded with kind messages after her pleasant update, including one from her dear friend and colleague Billie Jean King.

“Thinking of you, my friend,” Billie Jean King said.

In response to one such message, the 18-time Grand Slam champion confessed that, albeit in a tough ordeal, she was lucky not to be diagnosed with two simultaneous cancers 15 years ago, when the treatment wasn’t as sound as it is today.

“I know. Definitely no picnic… but I am lucky this didn’t happen to me 15 years ago….” she said.

---

"The bright light here is that she was able to identify both cancers at early stage" - CEO of the American Cancer Society on Martina Navratilova’s prognosis

Martina Navratilova has a highly favorable prognosis, says American Cancer Society CEO

Karen E. Knudsen, the lead researcher and CEO of the American Cancer Society, gave her views on Martina Navratilova’s double cancer revelation. Knudsen stated that simultaneous detection wasn’t uncommon.

"It's actually less uncommon than you think for individuals to be diagnosed with more than one cancer over their lifetime," she said.

The CEO further remarked that although the two different cancers were likely to complicate the treatment, the early detection posed a favorable outcome for the tennis legend.

"It does make treatment a little more complicated but the bright light here is that she was able to identify both cancers at early stage. With that throat cancer, the identification at early stage 1 gives her a highly favorable prognosis," she added.