Katie Thurston, a television personality who starred in the 17th season of ABC’s dating show “The Bachelorette,” has revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer just five months after announcing her engagement to comedian Jeff Arcuri.
“Yesterday, I saw all the couples post their Valentine’s Day celebrations. I felt envious, if I’m being honest. Jeff took me to Hawaii and after, we were going to travel the world before planting roots together in NYC finally,” the reality TV star continued.
“But instead, my Vday was spent coordinating a place to live as I have to go back to LA for more testing and treatment.”
Thurston said she spent the holiday morning scheduling another biopsy as well as appointments to discuss her fertility options and mental health struggles. She also met with her cancer care team to review her overall treatment plan, which includes rounds of chemotherapy and surgery.
Thurston expressed gratitude to her fiancé for being there for her in her time of need, writing, “I don’t know how I’d do this without you.”
“The selfless love that you smother me in is beyond anything I imagined I’d be blessed with,” she said. “I love you to the fullest in this lifetime and the next.”
Before being selected as The Bachelorette in June 2021, Thurston appeared as a contestant on Season 25 of “The Bachelor” earlier the same year. She received an outpouring of support in the comments section, including from some of the contestants who vied for her love.
“Sending you love and prayers Katie,” wrote Justin Glaze.
“Praying for God’s healing all throughout your body,” said Mike Planeta.
“Praying you know how loved and supported you are by everyone in your circle,” Planeta continued. “You have the fighter spirit in you and you are going to beat this!”
Clare Dawkins, who starred on the 16th season of “The Bachelorette,” called Thurston “a warrior of a woman.”
“I’m sending you a big hug and so many prayers for your strength. Here for you always,” Dawkins wrote.
Raven Gates Gottschalk, who competed on the 21st season of “The Bachelor,” also said that she was praying for Thurston.
Breast Cancer Battle
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, invasive ductal carcinoma, or IDC, is the most common type of breast cancer, affecting about 80 percent of all women who have been diagnosed with the disease.IDC occurs when abnormal cells growing in the lining of the breast’s milk ducts break through the duct walls and permeate into the surrounding breast tissue. If left untreated, the cancer can also spread into the body’s lymph nodes or bloodstream, potentially impacting other organs.
Visible signs of IDC may not always be present, especially in the cancer’s early stages. However, potential symptoms may include a lump in the breast or underarm area, thickening or redness of the breast’s skin, persistent breast pain, or breast swelling, among other symptoms.
“Went to the doc thinking it was going to be nothing,” she wrote. “I was wrong.”
Doctors were able to confirm the lump was cancerous after the reality star underwent a breast ultrasound, a mammogram, and multiple biopsies.
“I experienced a range of emotions over the past two weeks. Despair. Anger. Sadness. Denial. And then strength,” Thurston wrote in her Feb. 15 post.
“One thing I did early on was search other stories like mine. Other young women with breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma. Mastectomy. Pregnancy after breast cancer. All of their stories helped,” she said.
“So I intend to be the same for others. This is day one of sharing, and it is going to be a long one. This first step of acceptance of my reality was the hardest. But I am ready to fight this.”
