It was short, simple and at the same time so complicated.
I received a text on December 7th.
“I can’t talk right now, but the pathology report came in today and revealed I have a malignant tumor in my fallopian tube; I’m having another operation next week, so chemo…damn…”
I read the text five times before digesting it.
My friend Chrissie has cancer. The disease had killed her sister Jeanne. My God.
“No! I—. I’m sorry. Call me when you can/are ready. I’m here for whatever you need.”
At first, she needed more information. I needed more privacy to process it. And he needed to physically recover from his two surgeries. Through thick and thin, Chrissie has always owned her story. So here we are.
The winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including the Australian Open in 1982 and 1984, Chris Evert has been diagnosed with stage 1C ovarian cancer. It is an early stage, discovered after a preventive hysterectomy. The cancer has not been detected in other places in his body. This week, he began the first of six cycles of chemotherapy.
With time to gain some perspective, she says, “I’ve had a lucky life. I have some challenges ahead of me now. But, I take comfort in knowing that chemotherapy is to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back.”
But rightfully so, she’s a little nervous.
“As someone who has always had control over my life, I have no idea how I will respond to chemotherapy,” says Chrissie. “I have to surrender to a higher power.”
Dr. Joel Cardenas, from the gynecology/oncology department at Cleveland Clinic Florida near Fort Lauderdale, is Chrissie’s surgeon.
“70-80% of ovarian cancer is diagnosed at Stage 3 or 4,” explains Cardenas. “Three or four months from now, she would be at Stage 3 or 4. If nothing is done, it goes all the way down to the abdomen.”
For most women, including Chrissie, there are no detectable symptoms. Ovarian cancer in its early stages is almost impossible to detect.
She reminded me that her yearly exams, including tests for the amount of cancer antigen 125 in her blood, her ultrasounds, and MRI with contrast, were all negative.
“I’m so lucky,” she says with the conviction of someone who has witnessed someone unlucky.
Jeanne Evert Dubin, Chrissie’s younger sister, also a former professional tennis player, died in February 2020. She was 62 years old. The two sisters were running through the airport to catch their flight to the WTA Finals in Singapore in October 2017 when Chrissie noticed that Jeanne was out of breath and couldn’t keep up with her.
“True to Jeanne’s personality and like many other women, Jeanne was busy taking care of everyone else,” says Chrissie.
Jeanne promised to go to the doctor as soon as they got back. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It was in terminal stages and had spread. Chrissie describes seeing Jeanne in treatment as “devastating and traumatising”. She says that memories of Jeanne’s strength will motivate her own.
“When I go to have chemo, she’s my inspiration,” says Chrissie. “I think of her. She will get me through it.”
Chrissie was responsible for the eulogy at Jeanne’s funeral. Chrissie was stoic, collected and even funny. But above all, when she spoke about Jeanne’s cancer, Chrissie was direct. It was a powerful speech and message.
She wrote in the eulogy, “The last two and a half years in Jeanne’s life have been, for lack of a better word, brutal. She has dealt with a lot of chemotherapy, experimental treatments, surgeries, procedures, portals, needles and agonizing pain.” . She fought and fought to the sad end. For those of us who were on this journey with her, it was heartbreaking to watch.”
When Jeanne got cancer, she tested negative for harmful variants of the BRCA1 gene, which can be markers for susceptibility to certain cancers. Family members were not encouraged to undergo genetic testing at the time. People with pathogenic (harmful/dangerous/worrying) variants of this gene are at increased risk of developing certain cancers, particularly breast and ovarian cancers.
In the years since Jeanne’s diagnosis, genetic testing has evolved. Upon further investigation, the BRCA1 gene variant that Jeanne had was found to be pathogenic. The last week of October, four years after Jeanne’s diagnosis, the Evert family received a call notifying them of the change in interpretation of Jeanne’s genetic report.
That phone call was plain and simple a miracle.
Chrissie immediately sent her blood for genetic testing. It revealed that she also had a pathogenic variant of the BRCA1 gene. After discussions with her doctor, Chrissie had a hysterectomy in early December.
“We thought we were being proactive,” Chrissie said. “Since Jeanne had ovarian cancer, that was the priority. A decision about the breast comes later.”
Then things took an unexpected turn. “Dr. Cardenas called me and said that we needed to come back in the next 10 days to give other samples of the lymph nodes and other tissues.”
Chrissie was stunned. Pathology after surgery revealed malignant cells and a tumor originating from the left fallopian tube. As she went to various appointments, too many of the medical terms were familiar to her.
“I listened to all the terms for two years with Jeanne,” she said. “It was like deja vu going back in time. Back in space which was terrifying.”
Doctors operated again on December 13.
And then he waits for her.
“The longest three days of my life. Stage 1 or stage 3,” she said. “If I’m cancer-free, I’m a different statistic. I was in a daze. I couldn’t believe it. I had been working out, doing CrossFit, playing tennis. It didn’t feel any different.”
On December 15th, Chrissie texted: “NEGATIVE lymph nodes!!!!!!!”
“Yes! Screaming!” I replied.
December 15 was a good day. Stage 1. Dr. Cardenas called Chrissie and quickly got to the point. All pathology this time had come back negative. The cancer had been removed during the hysterectomy. It hadn’t been watered. After chemotherapy, there is a greater than 90% chance that your cancer will never come back.
“I don’t remember being this happy in years!” Chrissie said.
Since her debut at the age of 16 at the 1971 US Open, Chrissie has inspired millions of women around the world to follow their sporting dreams. She is proud to have been an example of a mix of athleticism and femininity. A champion, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and most of all, a mother, Chrissie has done it all. She continues to perform in competitions, but she dislikes conflict both today and in her playing days. He would rather get down to solving a problem or some injustice than discuss it.
Chris Evert Charities has raised nearly $30 million to fight drug addiction in South Florida. She also works tirelessly as the President of the USTA Foundation, which benefits underserved youth across the country. Chrissie understands her profile and the responsibility that comes with her platform. It’s one of the qualities I admire so much about your generation of WTA players.
Now, 50 years after its premiere on the world stage, it puts this personal information in the spotlight for the good of all women and men. She makes a passionate case for sharing her story.
“Chris, more people need to hear stories like these!” She tells me. “It’s the stark reality! We need to have these conversations. Ovarian cancer is a very deadly disease. Any information is power.”
His advice is imperative: “Be your own advocate. Know your family history. Be fully aware of your body, follow your gut, and pay attention to changes. Don’t try to be an activist and don’t think this will happen.”
The perception of gynecological cancers (ovarian, cervical, fallopian tube, uterine) as a woman’s disease or cancer needs to change. Mutations to the BRCA1 gene can lead to an increased risk of cancer in people of all gender identities.
Chrissie describes the days when she waited for her results as “sobering.” He realized that he was joining a brotherhood that no one wants to join. She often thought of Jeanne, along with “the many other women, sisters, friends and family who are or have faced this challenge.”
Dr. Cardenas says the keys to an early diagnosis are keeping up with exams and office visits, knowing your family history, and having a good relationship with your gynecologist. Women should be aware of risk factors, too — endometriosis, a history of breast cancer and infertility are among them. The average age for diagnosis of ovarian cancer is 63 years.
“Ovarian cancer is unusual,” said Dr. Cardenas. “However, if a patient has a family history, we encourage genetic testing and therapy.”
The genetic information her sister left behind probably saved Chrissie’s life.
For more information, Chrissie asks that you visit the pages of the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/ and the Cleveland Clinic at ClevelandClinic.org.
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