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Serena Williams says she had a benign cyst removed from her neck and 'all is OK'

The benign branchial cyst was “the size of a small grapefruit," according to Williams in her latest post to TikTok.

ByAssociated Press

Published Oct 16, 2024

Serena Williams says she had a benign branchial cyst "the size of a small grapefruit" removed from her neck and "all is OK."

The retired tennis star, who turned 43 last month, posted Wednesday on social media that she found a lump on her neck in May, had an MRI exam, and was told she didn't need to get it removed if she didn't want to. So she didn't then, "but it kept growing," Williams said.

After more tests, including a biopsy that was negative for cancer, Williams said, her doctors said she should have a procedure.

She showed video of herself in a hospital bed and wrote: "So this is me removing it. I am feeling so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I'm healthy."

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@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

In a separate social media post, she said she is "still recovering, but getting better. Health always comes first."

❤️ You're such a fighter. And such a great mama.
— Alexis Ohanian 🇦🇲 (@alexisohanian) October 16, 2024

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Williams announced her retirement — famously eschewing that term and saying instead she was "evolving" away from professional tennis — shortly before playing in the 2022 U.S. Open, her last tournament.

She won 23 Grand Slam titles in singles, the most by a woman in the sport's professional era, and another 14 in doubles with her older sister Venus. Serena Williams spent more than 300 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings and collected four Olympic gold medals.

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