Chris Evert, tennis great, reveals that she is cancer-free after her sister’s death from the same disease
Jason Koerner/Getty Images
Chris Evert A recent update was written by her on her health. She stated that she is now free of ovarian carcinoma.
The International Tennis Hall-of-Famer (68). shared her happy news In a Tuesday post for ESPN.com
Evert said, “Today I am cancer-free and there is a 90% chance that the cancer of the ovarian will never return.”
Jeanne, her sister who also died from the same type of cancer, was referenced by Evert. Evert said, “My sister’s story saved my life.” She added, “I hope that by sharing my journey, I just might be able to save someone else’s.”
Tennis legend Roger Federer highlighted the importance genetic testing, particularly the BRCA gene mutation test. This can help one determine if they are at higher risk of developing the disease.
“I started a year ago a journey in order to protect myself, my loved ones and from the potential dangers of the Internet. BRCA-related ovarian cancer Evert wrote, “That took my sister Jeanne’s life.” “Jeanne was not BRCA-positive, but genetic testing showed that she had a BRCA-1 variant of which there was ‘uncertain significance’. We remained focused on Jeanne and her treatment, even though the doctors did not recommend genetic testing.
RELATED: Christina Applegate Had Her Ovaries Removed Because of BRCA1 — Should You Get the Gene Test?
“The last two decades of her life were difficult; they were heartbreaking,” she said. Jeanne was killed in February 2020.
Chris Evert Instagram
Evert, who has won 18 Grand Slam singles tournaments in her career, continues her mission to educate people about early detection and prevention of cancer.
In her piece, she noted that she received a call in November from medical professionals confirming her BRCA variant. The “significance of the change was not longer unclear, it was now very clear pathogenic and we should have been tested.” She described being shocked at the news, and she was confirmed to have the same BRCA-1 mutation within days. You may also be at risk from the gene mutation. higher risk for breast cancer and any other disease.
She immediately scheduled a preventative Hysterectomy. “But my pathology report was back and my doctors were shocked to see that.” I had malignant cells and a tumor She shared her story of discovering her cancer in her left fallopian tube.
RELATED: Tennis Star Chris Evert Has Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer: ‘I Feel Very Lucky That They Caught It Early
She stated that her doctor told me that Stage 3 would be my fate if it was left undiscovered. There were very few options. “I was then diagnosed with Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer and started six rounds of chemotherapy immediately.
Rob Prange/Shutterstock
Evert is now free to go, but she says her journey is not over. ESPN wrote, “I needed time for recovery from chemotherapy and to rebuild my strength. But I still had one mountain to climb.” “The risk to me was greater than ovarian cancer. BRCA mutations have been linked to a 75% chance of developing breast carcinoma, and an increase in the risk of prostate and pancreatic disease.
She had her hysterectomy in May of 2009. One year later, she had a double breastectomy. Both her breasts were removed. This time she had more luck.
“I held my breath as I waited for my pathology reports. The report was clear and positive. My risk of developing breast carcinoma has been decreased by more than 90%,” she wrote. She also stated that she was on the right track to recovery.
Evert said that her sister was like many others and was too busy caring for everyone else. She also ignored the messages her body was sending her. “Trust your gut, learn about genetic testing, and be yourself advocate.
Jason Koerner/Getty Images
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter Keep up-to-date with the latest PEOPLE news, including juicy celebrity news and compelling human interest stories.
Evert currently holds 157 singles titles. He was previously ranked as No. From 1974 to 1978, 1980, 1981 and 1981, Evert was No. 1 in the world. 1989 was her last year playing tennis.
She is also a mother and has three sons — Colton, Nicholas and Alexander — whom she shares with ex-husband Andy Mill.