Withers: Navratilova diagnosed with breast cancer
[1]
Sorry for taking so long to get this. Tennis great Martina Navratilova [2] announced this week she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I cried. 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 February, the 53 year old had a routine mammogram and it was discovered she had ductal carcinoma in situ—also called DCIS. The cancer is non-invasive and confined to her milk ducts—it had not spread to any breast tissue. In February Navratilova had a lumpectomy and next month begins six weeks of radiation therapy. From all accounts, as with most women who find out they have DCIS, Navratilova’s future looks bright.
“The prognosis of someone with DCIS is excellent,” Dr. Shelley Hwang told People magazine [3]. “There’s only a one-percent chance of anyone with this diagnosis would die of breast cancer.”
Navratilova admitted it had been four years since her last mammogram. Reminds me of many women in my family. Well that’s not fair. At least Navratilova sees a doctor. My women folk? They are convinced all you need to fight illness is Tylenol, plus an enema. That theory is popular with the women relatives with health insurance.
If it has been awhile since your last mammogram, maybe it’s time to get one.
[1] http://www.365gay.com/wp-content/uploads/Martina-Navratilova-top.jpg
[2] http://www.afterellen.com/blog/trishbendix/morning-brew-wednesday-april-7-2010
[3] http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20358261,00.html
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