Serena Williams has revealed on social media that she had a benign branchial cyst “the size of a small grapefruit” removed from her neck.
On Wednesday, the retired tennis player shared a video on her social media of her in hospital getting the cyst removed, saying she was “mortified” to have found the lump.
Williams wrote that she found the lump on her neck in May, leading her to see a doctor who told her she had a branchial cyst after evaluating her MRI exam. Doctors also informed her that she did not need to get it removed if she did not want to.
Williams wrote that she decided to leave the cyst alone, but that it kept growing.
Following three subsequent tests and one biopsy, the 43-year-old said she was advised by her doctors to have it removed quickly because of its size and to prevent it from leaking or becoming infected.
Williams added a voice-over to the video. “I went under for it but they had to put a drain in it because it was so much,” she said. “But everything worked out. And I feel really happy to have worked with some great doctors; a little scared here, but excited to move on to the next steps of healing.”
The video also showed Williams in the American Doll store with her eldest daughter, Olympia, after the procedure.
She ended the caption by writing that she is “feeling so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I’m healthy,” adding that “all is OK.”
In a separate post on X, Williams said she had missed both the Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year awards and Rafael Nadal’s retirement announcement, but that she is “still recovering, but getting better. Health always comes first.”
What Is Branchial Cleft Cyst?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Branchial cleft cysts are lumps that develop in the neck or just below the collarbone.
Such cysts are congenital, meaning that they form during the development of the embryo, and are one of the most common forms of lumps that appear on the body. They can also appear at any age—with children being more likely to be diagnosed.
While branchial cleft cysts are noncancerous, healthcare providers may recommend surgery to remove the cyst to prevent or treat infections or recurrent swelling.