Brachial cleft cysts are small sacs filled with fluid that look like lumps under the skin on the side of the neck, according to the Cleveland Clinic. They are most often found in children, but adults can also get them. While they are typically noncancerous, doctors usually recommend surgery to remove them.
In her tennis career, Williams won 23 Grand Slam titles in singles and 14 more doubles titles. She was ranked No. 1 in the WTA rankings for 319 weeks, won four Olympic gold medals and was voted Associated Press Athlete of the Year five times.
Williams said she found a lump on her neck in May. She 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. But then she said “it kept growing,” so she went back for more tests, including a biopsy that was negative for cancer.
Still, her doctors said she should have a procedure.
“They said I don’t need to get it removed if I don’t want,” Williams wrote. “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.”
