Retired tennis legend Serena Williams has revealed she recently underwent surgery to remove a benign branchial cyst “the size of a small grapefruit” from her neck.
The 43-year-old has however assured fans that “all is OK” as she shared the update from her hospital bed.
Williams explained that she discovered a lump on her neck back in May in a social media video.
After undergoing an MRI, doctors then informed her that the cyst didn’t need to be removed unless she wanted it to. Initially, Williams opted to leave it but later changed her mind because the cyst apparently continued to grow by the day, as per a Daily Mail report.
@serena Back in May I found a lump showing on my neck. I immediately went to the doc got a mri and was told I have a brachial cyst. Have you ever heard of that? They said I don’t need to get it removed if I don’t want. So I did not get it but it kept growing. I decided to get more test and 3 test and one biopsy later everything is still negative but doctors advised I get it removed asap because it was the size of a small grapefruit and it could get infected or worse leak. So this is me removing it. I am feelimg so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I’m healthy. I still made it to American doll with Olympia as promised. And yes all is ok. ???????????????? #fyp #foryourpage #serenawilliams #mom ♬ original sound – Serenawilliams
“They said I don’t need to get it removed if I don’t want. So I did not, but it kept growing,” Williams said in the video. “Three tests and one biopsy later, everything is still negative, but doctors advised I get it removed ASAP because it could get infected or worse, leak.”
Williams then went on to express gratitude for her health, and added, : “I’m feeling so grateful and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all, I’m healthy. I still made it to American Doll with Olympia as promised. And yes, all is OK.”
In another post, she also reflected on some events that she missed out on while recovering, including the Glamour Woman of the Year awards and Rafael Nadal’s retirement. “Health always comes first,” the tennis icon said.
Despite the recent health scare, Williams was seen at a Green Day concert in Los Angeles last month, where she showed no signs of illness and also interestingly joined other fans in jogging around during the event.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 43 in September, retired from tennis after the 2022 U.S. Open, and is married to entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian. The couple has two daughters in Olympia, 7, and Adira, 1.
One of her delightful sporting moments was when Serena Williams recently returned to the U.S. Open as a fan, sporting a denim skirt which was heavily-similar to that which she wore in her playing days.
Serena Williams is now widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history, and held the WTA’s No. 1 ranking for 319 weeks in her career, also wining won all four Grand Slam singles titles and defeating her sister Venus in each final.
Her last Grand Slam title came at the 2017 Australian Open, where she finished her career only one title shy of Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
Many fans of the tennis icon are glad to know that she is in good health after the surgery, and will be hoping to see her active at the biggest events again in the coming months.
