Katie Thurston, known from “The Bachelorette,” is holding onto hope. She faces stage 4 breast cancer, but shared her bright outlook recently. Talking to E! News on Thursday, October 9, the 34-year-old star said she was “doing well, all things considered.” She has a big six-month scan coming up on Monday and feels “very optimistic” about it.
Her health journey took a sharp turn after she found a lump in November 2024. Doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer in February 2025. Just a month later, in March, the cancer spread to her liver. This meant her diagnosis became stage 4, a tough label to carry.
Through it all, Thurston credits her support system. She told E! News how important her loved ones have been, especially her husband, Jeff Arcuri. “You can’t face cancer alone,” she explained. “You really have to lean on your friends and family. And having someone who is your partner, right by your side every step of the way? It’s been everything.”
Her cancer diagnosis has also changed how she sees everyday life. She now handles common situations with a new perspective. “I’ve come to realize that you never know what someone is going through,” she added. “I find I have more patience with strangers now. If someone is driving too slow or is grumpy, you don’t know what’s happening in their life. So I feel like I’m kinder.”
Katie Thurston. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
The Raw Reality
Thurston’s path to recovery has been anything but smooth, hitting her hard both emotionally and physically. On September 30, the former reality TV personality got emotional on Instagram. She shared her honest feelings about handling her breast cancer diagnosis. “Tomorrow is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I’m, like, breaking down if I’m being honest,” Thurston said in a video on her Instagram Stories. “I don’t even know what I’m saying, guys. I just want to be really honest. I know sometimes I seem positive, but it’s really hard to keep that attitude.”
She confessed she had hoped for an easier end to the year. “I really wanted, like, the end of the year to be my last push and then everything would be easier,” she added. “You know, treatment is working, everything is going well. But instead, I feel like I’m damaging my liver, I’m lowering my medication dose, I’ve postponed my surgery, which I haven’t even talked about yet.” Thurston had shared in a September 19 Instagram post that she planned to have a double mastectomy “in November.”
Addressing Tough Questions
Back in April 2025, Thurston opened up about having moments where she felt like she was dying after her diagnosis. “I think that happens to me from reading other people’s experiences,” Thurston explained during an April 17 appearance on “Uncomfortable Conversations.” She joined host Emmanuel Acho for the video series. “Like many, there are many unknowns. People simply don’t have experience with cancer.” She pointed out a common misconception: “You usually hear stage 4, you hear it has spread to the liver, and I think automatically people think you have little time left to live.” Thurston continues to confront these hard truths head-on.