Women's Tennis Star Kept Her Cancer Diagnosis A Secret
12/31/2024 11:16 AM
Canadian tennis star Gabriela Dabrowski revealed shocking health news in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
In a post captioned "The Unseen of 2024 🩷," Dabrowski, 32, who finished runner-up along with doubles partner Erin Routliffe at Wimbledon and won bronze at the Olympics this summer, shared that she has been competing while battling breast cancer. The diagnosis came back in April, Dabrowski said.
"How can something so small cause such a big problem? This is the question I asked myself when I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in mid-April," Dabrowski wrote. "I know this will come as a shock to many but I am okay and will be okay. Early detection saves lives. I can wholeheartedly agree with this."
Dabrowski went on to reveal that she felt a lump in her left breast during a self-exam in spring 2023. A doctor originally told her not to worry, so she did not seek further treatment.
However, one year later, the lump felt bigger, causing the Ottawa native to seek additional testing. A biopsy confirmed cancer.
Dabrowski underwent two surgeries and a variety of treatments while continuing to compete and took a "slight delay in further treatment" in order to participate in Wimbledon and Olympics.
"Why am I sharing my story now? For a long time, I wasn't ready to expose myself to the possible attention and questions I'd have gotten before. I wanted to figure everything out and handle things privately with only those closest to me in the loop," Dabrowski said.
"Currently, I'm in a place where I have a better grasp of my treatment, side effects and how to manage them. Please know that I am fully aware of how lucky I am as well, because many do not get the luxury of being able to tell their story at all."
The current world No. 3 in doubles, Dabrowski is a three-time Grand Slam champion. She also has 17 career doubles titles.
"To cancer, I say f--- you, but also, thank you," she finished off her heartfelt post this morning.
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