After treatment, Martina Navratilova returns to work at Tennis Channel, cancer-free

Must Watch: Martina Navratilova—cancer free—makes her return to Tennis Channel

It's already been a memorable Miami Open because of the voice the world heard in an icon's return to the sport she loves.

Martina Navratilova, who in January announced that she had been diagnosed with Stage 1 throat cancer and early-stage breast cancer, is back in the broadcast booth after successful treatment.

"It’s great to be back, I was so nervous coming in here," she said alongside boothmate Mark Petchey. "I was hoping to come back at Indian Wells, but it all worked out for me. Thrilled to be here, so happy to be working.

"How many people can say that? I’m thrilled to be working! It’s good to be back."

An emotional Navratilova then took viewers through the treatment process, and shared the widespread support she received.

"I’ve had great support in the Twitter world, but the tennis world has come through with flying colors. I cannot tell you how many people have been texting me, calling me. It’s just been overwhelming. Sending me flowers, Ken Solomon, everybody at Tennis Channel everybody emailing me it’s just been overwhelming. Everybody, everywhere, it’s been amazing."

"It puts you face-to-face with mortality, number one. I said at the beginning I wasn’t sure if it was treatable, so that was hard. But once I got into the program, it was a little easier emotionally, but more difficult physically, between chemo and in proton therapy it me up, but I’m still standing. I made it up the stairs without using the elevator here, so it’s all good."

I’ve had great support in the Twitter world, but the tennis world has come through with flying colors. I cannot tell you how many people have been texting me, calling me. It’s just been overwhelming. Martina Navratilova

More on Martina, from the Associated Press:

LONDON (AP) — Martina Navratilova has been told by doctors that, "as far as they know, I'm cancer-free," and that she should be "good to go" after some additional radiation treatment.

The 66-year-old Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, discussed her health in an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV scheduled to be aired Tuesday.

Navratilova said in January that she had throat cancer and breast cancer and would be starting treatment.

During the interview with Morgan, according to The Sun newspaper, Navratilova said that when she was diagnosed, "I was in a total panic for three days, thinking I may not see next Christmas" and came up with a bucket list of things she wanted to do.

She noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck while attending the season-ending WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, in November, and a biopsy showed early stage throat cancer. While Navratilova was undergoing tests on her throat, she said, the unrelated, early stage breast cancer was discovered.

I was hoping to come back at Indian Wells, but it all worked out for me. Thrilled to be here, so happy to be working. Martina Navratilova

Navratilova was diagnosed with a noninvasive form of breast cancer in 2010 and had a lumpectomy.

She won 59 Grand Slam titles overall, including 31 in women's doubles and 10 in mixed doubles. The last was a mixed doubles championship with Bob Bryan at the 2006 U.S. Open, a month shy of her 50th birthday.

Navratilova originally retired in 1994, after a record 167 singles titles and 331 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She returned to the tour to play doubles in 2000 and occasionally competed in singles, too.

She has worked as a TV analyst in recent years.