Serena Williams is on the mend after revealing Tuesday she recently had a branchial cyst “the size of a small grapefruit” removed from her neck.
In a video posted on TikTok, the 23-time Grand Slam champion detailed the procedure and her subsequent recovery, sharing she discovered the mass on her neck in May.
“I got tests done, everything you can imagine, everything was negative and it turns out I had what they called a cyst, a branchial cyst to be exact,” Williams, 43, said in the nearly two-minute clip, which was documented from her hospital bed.
@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
The Cleveland Clinic describes branchial cleft cysts as “small fluid-filled sacs that may look like lumps under your skin on the side of your neck.”
As the cyst “kept growing,” Williams opted for further testing and a biopsy that came back with negative results. Doctors advised her to get the mass removed to avoid the risk of infection or a leak.
“Obviously I went under for it, but they had to put a drain in it because it was so much but everything worked out and I feel really happy to have worked with some great doctors. A little scared here, but excited to be moving to the next steps of healing,” Williams said in the TikTok video.
Williams, who shares daughters Olympia, 7, and Adria, 1, with husband Alexis Ohanian, then filmed her ride home from the hospital.
“I’m a little tired but so grateful to remove it,” she said in the clip, which concluded with a trip to the doll store with Olympia.
Williams expressed gratitude in her TikTok caption that “everything worked out.”
“I am feeling [sic] so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I’m healthy,” the caption read.
Williams’ last appearance on the tennis circuit was at the 2022 U.S. Open when she lost to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round.