[PHOTO: David Silva]
Jan Stephenson is battling breast cancer with the same tenacity she showed during her decorated golf career, revealing that she is reacting to treatment in a positive fashion that will allow the Australian golf legend to attend a series of commemorative events during the American summer, including the 40th anniversary of her 1983 US Women’s Open victory.
In a wide-ranging interview in the July issue of Australian Golf Digest (on-sale from June 22), the 71-year-old says her reactions to chemotherapy have been minimal and the tumours “are all disappearing”.
“Everything’s going [great]. [The doctors are] pretty happy with what’s happening,” Stephenson said earlier this month. “I’m very lucky, I don’t know why I haven’t had any of the reactions you normally get with chemo. I haven’t had any nausea or any diarrhoea. I haven’t lost my taste and appetite, which they’re surprised at. They think it’s maybe because I’m so strong.
“The good thing is the few biopsies that we’ve done since I started, the tumours are all disappearing, which is wonderful. So I only have two more [treatments] to go, and then I get a six-week break so I can get back to practising.”
The three-time major winner has remained hopeful for some time of attending the past champions dinners at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and US Women’s Open, which this year ventures to Pebble Beach for the first time.
“I asked the doctors if I could do both of those. They said, ‘Yeah, you get two months off, no matter what, anyway.’ So I get to do that. Then once they said that, I’m like, I could almost get ready for the Women’s Senior Open and play. So it’s definitely a goal.”
Stephenson revealed the diagnosis in February, saying it was Stage 3 breast cancer, but quickly indicated her intention to fight the cancer hard.
“It means so much to me for all my friends and family to lend so much support,” Stephenson said in a statement at the time. “I have had some negative challenges in my career and managed to survive. This is just another tough hole that is uphill and against the wind. See you on my next downhill and downwind hole!”
Elsewhere in the interview in our July issue, Stephenson reminisces about her US Women’s Open victory, the period when she was the face of the LPGA, injuries, course design, plus her relationships with Karrie Webb and Greg Norman as well as the period when she dated Donald Trump.
