Chris Evert was diagnosed with cancer for the second time.
The tennis legend, 68, revealed her cancer had returned “in the same region of the pelvis” in her latest health update on Friday, two years after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and announced she was in remission earlier this year.
“Since I was first diagnosed with cancer two years ago, I have been very open about my experience. Just wanted to let you all know. My cancer is back,” Evert ua said statement published via ESPN.
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Evert shared on Friday that her cancer has returned to health.
Jason Koerner/Getty
“Although this is a diagnosis I never wanted to hear, once again I feel fortunate that it was caught early,” she continued. “Based on the PET CT scan, I underwent another robotic surgery last week. Doctors found cancer cells in the same region of the pelvis. All the cells were removed and I started a second round of chemotherapy.”
“I won’t be able to join my colleagues when ESPN returns to Melbourne for the Australian Open next month. But I will be ready for the rest of the Grand Slam season!” said the sports star.
Evert added, “I encourage everyone to know their family history and advocate for themselves. Early detection saves lives. Be thankful for your health this holiday season.”
Evert representatives did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The great tennis player Chris Evert revealed that she is cancer free after her sister’s death from the same disease
Evert previously announced that she was cancer-free in January.
“Today I am cancer free and there is a 90% chance that ovarian cancer will never come back,” she said in a post on ESPN.com at the time.
The International Tennis Hall of Famer emphasized the importance of genetic testing while also speaking about her sister Jeanne, who died of the same disease in February 2020.
“One year ago I began a journey to protect myself and my loved ones from the risks associated with the BRCA-related ovarian cancer that claimed my sister Jeanne’s life,” Evert continued.
“Jeanne was not BRCA positive, but genetic testing revealed she had a BRCA-1 variant that was of ‘uncertain significance’. Doctors did not recommend genetic testing for me or my siblings and we remained focused on Jeanne’s treatment.”
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Evert retired from tennis after ranking first in the world in 1989.
The 18-time Grand Slam winner said she was told by medical professionals that she and her siblings “should have been tested” because they “reclassified her BRCA variant” which is “now very clearly pathogenic”.
Evert said she booked a preventive hysterectomy right after that, which led to her finding out she had stage one ovarian cancer.
Tennis star Chris Evert has stage 1 ovarian cancer: ‘I’m very happy it was caught early’
“When my pathology report came in, my doctors and I were stunned to discover that I had malignant cells and a tumor in my left fallopian tube,” Evert recalled.
“My doctor said if I had gone undiagnosed, in four months I would probably be stage 3 like Jeanne, with very few options…I immediately started six rounds of chemotherapy.” Evert also underwent a double mastectomy.
Evert is mom to three sons, Colton, Nicholas and Alexander, whom she shares with ex-husband Andy Milla.
She retired from tennis in 1989 after being world No. 1 for seven years, from 1974 to 1981, and currently holds 157 singles titles.
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