RHOM’s Julia Lemigova Looks Back on ‘Punching Fear in the Face’ amid Wife Martina Navratilova’s Cancer Journey

Julia Lemigova openly talks about supporting her wife Martina Navratilova during cancer treatment.

The The Real Housewives of Miami star, 51, described his wife’s difficult journey with cancer at BravoCon’s Housewife2Housewife: The New Wave of Wives panel on Saturday.

“This year I faced the most difficult year in my life because Martina fought with two cancers at the same time. Now she is cancer-free,” she said. “So after this scare and like a slap in the face, cancer knocked on our door once or twice this year, and watching Martina fight back, I admire her so much.”

“She inspired me like if she could beat cancer, I could take the fear out of my heart and just be who I want to be loud and proud,” she added.

‘RHOM’ Star Julia Lemigova Says ‘We’ll Fight This’ After Wife Martina Navratilova Diagnosed With Cancer

Julija Lemigova and Martina Navratilova.

Clive Brunskill/Getty

Later in the conversation, the Bravo star admitted that it was “doubly hard” for her to see both her husband and her RHOM costar Guerdy Abraira who was diagnosed with cancer the same year. Abraira (45) discovered she had breast cancer in May.

“As a janitor, at first you don’t know what to expect and what to do,” said Lemigova. “But then you listen to your heart and try to see what your loved one needs the most. So I listened to Martina, I was there for her the whole time… I didn’t take anything personally because you have to go with them as number one and then you forget yourself, but that is out of love.”

“It was so hard. And Martina and Julia, we had lunch. Martina gave me advice,” Abraira added as she burst into tears. “She says, ‘Be selfish,’ and I thought the hardest thing for me was being selfish. And I was and that’s what got me here today to be healthier.”

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PEOPLE confirmed in January that Navratilova, 67, was diagnosed with throat and breast cancer in late 2022. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer and declared cancer-free in 2010.

Lemigova previously spoke with PEOPLE in early March about how her wife’s cancer diagnosis changed her attitude and outlook on life.

After your wife is diagnosed with two cancers, it really changes your perspective, the reality star said. “We all have to be strong for her. There is no time to sit and cry.

“I’m a firm believer that when life hits you with tragedy, no matter how great the tragedy, you basically have two choices: submit or resist and rebel,” she explained. “And all my life I’ve been, I’m a rebel in a way, and I’m always fighting back. So this is just one of those big tragedies that hit our family. And there’s no time or place to sit and cry because it’s not going to help. It’s going to only make things worse.”

Martina Navratilova’s two cancer diagnoses put adoption plans ‘on hold’, says wife Julia Lemigova

Julija Lemigova and Martina Navratilova.

Charles Sykes/Bravo

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A few weeks later, Navratilova announced that she was cancer-free. In a separate interview conducted a few days after the news broke, Lemig told PEOPLE she was “so proud” of her wife for surviving her cancer diagnosis. “I have no words to express how proud I am of my champion because she played singles against the most dangerous doubles partners she’s ever faced in her life, and beat them both triumphantly. She amazes me every day,” Lemigova said.

“I have no idea what the future shows, really don’t. I’m just happy that I’m healthy. I’m happy that Martina is healthy,” she added. “Just thank life for giving us good news and for having each other.”

After tying the knot in 2014, Lemigova and Navratilova became the first same-sex couple ever to appear as regular cast members on Real Housewives franchise since it launched on Bravo in 2006.

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