The Bachelorette star Katie Thurston diagnosed with breast cancer aged 34

Katie Thurston wearing sparkly top and smiling
Katie Thurston has been diagnosed with breast cancer (Picture: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

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.

THE BACHELORETTE - 1710 Its the conclusion of Katie Thurstons turbulent journey on The Bachelorette. Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams join a studio audience as they watch the final moments unravel. Defeated and on the bathroom floor after a devastating breakup, can Katie pick herself back up and continue with the two remaining men she is also falling in love with? Later in After the Final Rose, Kaitlyn and Tayshia are joined onstage by Katie and her final three as they try to make sense of what happened in New Mexico, including a tense confrontation with Greg about his sudden departure. Did Katie leave with the love she was looking for, or did she go home alone? The season finale of The Bachelorette airs MONDAY, AUG. 9 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images) KATIE THURSTON, BLAKE MOYNES
Katie starred in The Bachelorette on season 17 (Picture: ABC via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Reality TV Personality Katie Thurston attends Stephen Lovegrove's First Noelle Ball 2022 at The Mayan on December 08, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
She was a previous contestant on Matt James’ season of The Bachelor (Picture: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

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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