Yahoo Lifestyle The Bachelorette’s Katie Thurston Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis — Read Her Statement
Katie Thurston, who served as The Bachelorette on Season 17 of the ABC reality show, announced Saturday that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Life update: I have breast cancer,” Thurston’s Instagram post begins. “Yesterday, I saw all the couples post their Valentine’s Day celebrations. I felt envious if I’m being honest. [My fiancé] Jeff [Arcuri] took me to Hawaii and after, we were going to travel the world before planting roots together in NYC finally. But instead, my Vday was spent coordinating a place to live as I have to go back to LA for more testing and treatment. I used my morning to figure out insurance for NYC and laws on preexisting conditions. I scheduled appointments for another biopsy, fertility, mental health, surgery, as well as meeting with my team to discuss the overall treatment plan, which will include chemo.
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“I experienced a range of emotions over the past two weeks. Despair. Anger. Sadness. Denial. And then strength,” Thurston said. “Purposeful. Ready. I cried a lot. I tried to even make a video instead of this post and couldn’t. But 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. So I intend to be the same for others. This is day one of sharing and 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.”
Thurston ended her post with her tribute to Arcuri, her “extraordinary husband to be,” adding: “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. I love you to the fullest in this lifetime and the next.”
Thurston made her Bachelor Nation debut as a contestant during Matt James’ season of The Bachelor in 2021. She was then tapped to lead Season 17 of The Bachelorette and became engaged to contestant Blake Moynes, but the pair announced their split shortly after the finale. Thurston then went on to star in Season 3 of The CW’s FBoy Island and made an appearance during Season 9 of Bachelor in Paradise.
In response to Saturday’s news, the official Instagram account for Bachelor Nation left a comment on Thurston’s Instagram post, writing: “We’re sending you so much love Katie.”
You can see Thurston’s full announcement embedded below:
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