Tennis legend Chris Evert has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in two years. The Hall of Famer said on Friday her ovarian cancer had returned, adding that she will not broadcast for ESPN at the upcoming Australian Open while undergoing treatment.
The 68-year-old Evert was first diagnosed with stage 1 BRCA-related ovarian cancer in December of 2021. She completed chemotherapy in May of 2022, telling the public that her doctor was confident that the disease would not return because it was caught early.
‘While this is a diagnosis I never wanted to hear, I once again feel fortunate that it was caught early,’ Evert said in a statement released by ESPN. ‘Doctors found cancer cells in the same pelvic region. All cells were removed, and I have begun another round of chemotherapy.’
Evert is an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion. The Australian Open begins next month.‘I’ll be ready for the rest of the Grand Slam season!’ Evert said. She previously revealed her initial cancer diagnosis in January of 2022, insisting at the time that she was optimistic.
‘I’ve lived a very charmed life. Now I have some challenges ahead of me,’ Evert said. ‘But I have comfort in knowing the chemotherapy is to ensure that cancer does not come back.’ Her sister, Jeanne Evert Dubin, died from ovarian cancer in February 2020 at age 62.
Evert previously said that back when her sister was first diagnosed, doctors didn’t recommend her or her siblings get tested. ‘Jeanne wasn’t BRCA positive, but genetic testing revealed she had a BRCA-1 variant that was of “uncertain significance.”,’ she said.
‘Be your own advocate. Know your family’s history. Have total awareness of your body, follow your gut and be aware of changes,’ Evert said in 2022. ‘Don’t try to be a crusader and think this will pass.’ It comes less than a year since Evert announced she was cancer free, saying there was a 90 per cent chance the disease would not return.
‘Then, last November, I got a call saying they had reclassified her BRCA variant the significance was no longer uncertain, it was now very clearly pathogenic, and we should be tested.’ With the diagnosis in place, Evert scheduled a preventative hysterectomy. When the pathology report came back, doctors found malignant cells and a tumor in her left fallopian tube.
But the discovery allowed doctors to treat the disease, ‘early enough to do something about it.’ ‘My doctor said if left undiscovered, in four months’ time I would probably have been Stage 3 like Jeanne, with very few options,’ Evert revealed.
Evert said ,‘Instead, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer, and I immediately began six rounds of chemotherapy.’ ‘BRCA mutations are associated with an up to 75 percent risk of developing breast cancer, and an increased risk of prostate and pancreatic cancer as well,’.
‘When it comes to deciding between surveillance or surgery, everyone’s choice is personal,’ Evert wrote. ‘The most important thing is not to leave things to chance. Of the 25 million women and men worldwide who have a BRCA mutation, only 10% know they are carriers.
That revelation along with advice from her doctors led to Evert also undergoing a double mastectomy. Evert said that she was revealing her story and her sister’s story in order to raise awareness and let others know the risks.
