By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, December 31, 2024
World No. 3 doubles star Gabriela Dabrowski shares her courageous battle with breast cancer—and why it's vital she tells her story now.
Photo credit: Getty/Gabriela Dabrowski Facebook
Major battles don't always occur on court.
WTA Finals doubles champion Gabriela Dabrowski delivered some of the most dynamic tennis of her career while battling a life-threatening illness in 2024.
World No. 3 doubles star Dabrowski shared she played much of the season while battling breast cancer.
In a poignant social media post today, the 30-year-old Canadian star revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April a moment that turned her life "upside down."
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in mid-April," Dabrowski posted. "I know this will come as a shock to many, but I am okay and I will be okay. Early detection saves lives."
Dabrowski bravely battled cancer undergoing two surgeries at The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Despite draining physical and emotional challenges—treatment left the right-hander's left arm too weak produce a ball toss at one point—Dabrowski and partner Erin Routliffe won the Nottingham title in June and went on to reach the Wimbledon final falling to Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend 7-6(5), 7-6(1) in the final.
That rousing run came just three months after the 2023 US Open doubles champion learned she had cancer.
Resilience and commitment to the cause helped Dabrowski survive and thrive competing with gratitude and grit during a "surreal" life-changiing experience.
In her post, Dabrowski said she first detected a lump in her left breast in a self-exam during the spring of 2023. She reported it to a doctor, but was told it wasn't a problem.
The lump grew. During an annual WTA physical, a WTA doctor told Dabrowski to undergo a full breast exam. That revealed cancer iin her left breast.
"Please know 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," Dabrowski said. "Over time, I began to recognize I was a part of something much bigger than myself."
Dabrowski said she hopes sharing her successful battle with cancer will encourage people to realize early detection can save lives.
"Currently, I’m in a place where I have a better grasp of my treatment, side effects and how to manage them," Dabrowski said.
"During October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I caught myself wanting to share posts I saw about the importance of early detection, healthy eating and living habits, experts to learn from, podcasts that offer advice and comfort (shoutout @beatingcancerdaily), etc. This feeling of wanting to contribute to others in a positive or helpful way was the beginning of this post. The first thing I saw when I walked in to get my first ever mammogram was a flyer that said “Breast Cancer is almost 100% survivable.”
"My intentions in sharing some of my experience are to emphasize the quality of life one can maintain when cancer is detected early, when you have access to doctors and other health care practitioners who are highly skilled and dedicated to their craft, when you take care of your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, and when you surround yourself with people who truly have your back (and your front 🙃)."