Katie Thurston has revealed that she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 34.
The former Bachelorette star – who got engaged to comedian Jeff Arcuri just last September – told fans about her diagnosis today in a heartbreaking announcement.
On Instagram, Katie posted: ‘Life update: I have breast cancer. 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. 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 pre-existing 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.’
Katie discovered a ‘small lump’ in her breast, and thought it was perhaps to do with her period or muscle soreness from working out, but she was wrong.
When the ‘painful’ lump – which Katie revealed was around the size of a ping pong ball – ‘never went away’, the TV star went to the doctor thinking it would be ‘nothing’.
The star confirmed she will be getting chemotherapy and a mastectomy. She added that chemotherapy will impact her fertility, so she is going to ‘preserve [her] eggs’.
While the diagnosis came as a shock to Katie, she has gone through many emotions since hearing the news.
‘I experienced a range of emotions over the past two weeks. Despair. Anger. Sadness. Denial. And then strength. Purposeful. Ready. I cried a lot. I tried to even make a video instead of this post and couldn’t,’ she said.
Katie added: ‘But one thing I did early on was search other stories like mine. Other young women with breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma. Mastectomy.
How to check for signs of breast cancer
CoppaFeel! offers these simple steps on how to check your own chest for signs of cancer.
Look
- Look at your boobs, pecs or chest.
- Look at the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in size, outline or shape and changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling.
Feel
- Feel each of your boobs, pecs or chest.
- Feel the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling, or any lumps, bumps or skin thickening which are different from the opposite side.
Notice your nipples
- Look at each of your nipples.
Be aware of any nipple discharge that’s not milky, any bleeding from the nipple, any rash or crusting on or around your nipple area that doesn’t heal easily and any change in the position of your nipple
‘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.’
She then directed thanks to her ‘extraordinary’ husband-to-be Jeff.
‘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,’ she said.
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