Katie Thurston Reveals Menopause, Stage 4 Cancer Battle, and IVF Struggles

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Katie Thurston is showing a glimpse into her ongoing cancer battle.

Approximately three months following the announcement of a stage three breast cancer diagnosis by a former contestant on The Bachelorette, and now advanced to stage four, she offered insights about the bodily impacts of her ongoing treatment.

Katie clarified in her Instagram Story video on May 6th that she’s had trouble sleeping recently due to being in medically-induced menopause, which causes hot flashes. Additionally, her medication is leaving her extremely dehydrated, causing her lips to be chapped for nearly two weeks.

Due to the reality TV personality, who was featured in season 17 of the dating show, receiving cancer treatments involving hormone therapy, she emphasized the importance of staying well-hydrated now more than before.

Katie confessed that she’s been struggling to keep up with drinking enough water and that was a challenge for her even prior to taking medication. Now, it feels more like a daily chore to compel myself to drink water.

Despite tying the knot with Jeff Arcuri earlier this year, the 34-year-old woman has candidly discussed the difficult truths that come with receiving a cancer diagnosis.

I shared during Emmanuel Acho’s podcast ‘Uncomfortable Conversations’ recently, expressing my personal journey with this sentiment: “I can’t help but wonder, for how long should I continue taking this medication? When is my next check-up to see the changes unfolding?” This uncertainty is quite perplexing. In truth, we are all on a shared path towards the end, and it’s hard not to feel its presence.

Each day is a treasure, yet a diagnosis carries an unexpected weight, making one always aware of potential threats in the rearview mirror, as she explained. What I long for most is mental tranquility to fully enjoy life.

In my role as a lifestyle advisor, I’ve found myself walking alongside many couples through life’s complex chapters. Katie and Jeff are no exception, as they bravely faced a challenging time in their journey. Ahead of her treatments, they made the thoughtful decision to freeze their embryos, a choice that reflects their deep commitment to each other and their future family.

Much like an IVF journey, their experience was not without its complications. They navigated through these challenges with resilience and grace, demonstrating the strength of their bond and their unwavering determination to build their family together.

She posted on Instagram in March that she was going to discuss her experience with embryo freezing. Out of 17 eggs retrieved, six were fertilized. However, only three of those managed to reach the blastocyst stage. After genetic testing, we were left with two embryos suitable for freezing – one rated B and the other C. This is what IVF treatment can often be like.

She shared that they have considered the possibility of surrogacy in the future.

She clarified on Instagram that Jeff and herself had a conversation about the significance of her well-being, and it appears surrogacy will probably be our preferred choice when needed. It’s important to remember not to pass judgment on celebrities using surrogacy; after all, you never truly know what personal challenges they may be facing.

For a closer look at Katie’s ongoing cancer battle, keep reading.

Initially, Katie Thurston, a former contestant on The Bachelorette, became worried when she felt a tiny lump in her breast during the summer of 2024.

She shared this experience on her Instagram Stories in February 2025, mentioning that at first, she thought it could be related to her menstrual cycle or muscle soreness due to exercise.

Since Katie had a harmless cyst removed from the same breast when she was 20, she initially assumed this new lump was similar. However, after it persisted and didn’t go away on its own, she decided to seek medical advice.

She continued by saying, “I went to the doctor thinking it would be nothing, but I was mistaken.

Initially, Katie’s general practitioner suggested she consult a specialist for a breast ultrasound due to concerns. Later, she underwent a mammogram. Subsequently, as she explained in an Instagram video dated March 18, 2025, the specialists recommended a biopsy to confirm if it was breast cancer. She recalled this appointment as being on February 5, and by February 13th, she received the confirmation of her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis over the phone.

The news was the most distressing moment in her life, Katie shared on Good Morning America the next day, March 19, 2025. She emphasized that her family doesn’t have a history of breast cancer and added, “As a 34-year-old woman, you’re not prepared for it.”

She announced her diagnosis on Instagram on February 15, 2025, where she expressed the various emotions she experienced over the past two weeks, including despair, anger, sadness, denial, and eventually finding strength. She wrote that crying was common during this time, but she was ready to face the challenge.

Katie intended to chronicle her journey in an attempt to help others going through similar experiences. In her words, “I searched for stories like mine – young women with breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma, and plans for a mastectomy, pregnancy after breast cancer. All of their tales provided comfort, so I want to do the same for others. This is day one of sharing, and it will be a long journey. Accepting my reality was the hardest part, but I am ready to battle this.

News about Katie’s diagnosis arrived five months following her engagement to comedian Jeff Arcuri, whom she met through Instagram in the spring of 2024. Originally, they had planned a wedding and were considering starting a family. However, the year ahead was dedicated to treatment and recovery instead.

Katie and Jeff made the decision to freeze their embryos as a precaution due to potential fertility issues from her cancer treatments. They shared their journey in mid-March 2025 and provided an update at the end of the month on social media.

On March 31, Katie gave fans an update on Instagram Stories about the embryo freezing process: “I thought I’d share the outcome of embryo freezing,” she wrote. “We retrieved 17 eggs and attempted to fertilize them. Of the 17, only 6 were successfully fertilized. But then they have to make it to the blastocyst stage. Only three made it. And after genetic testing, we have 2 embryos we were able to freeze, one Grade B and one Grade C. This is the reality of IVF.”

Katie has also mentioned the possibility of using a surrogate in the future, emphasizing that celebrities should not be judged for pursuing surrogacy because their personal lives are often private. However, she told GMA that she and Jeff are “also OK being a childless couple.

Katie and Jeff decided to move forward with their marriage plans by getting married on March 22, 2025 in New York. After months of long-distance dating, Katie made a cross-country move to be with Jeff. The intimate ceremony took place in the backyard of their apartment, attended by their parents, officiant friend, and their newly adopted dog, Charlie.

Katie told Us Weekly that it was a sweet decision and shared that they had their wedding in their backyard due to the emotions surrounding Jeff’s chemo treatments and uncertain health. She said Jeff proposed on the spot, declaring his love for her and his intention to stay by her side.

Although Katie mentioned they plan to have a larger wedding in the future, she appreciated Jeff’s gesture as a sign that he is committed to their relationship, no matter what lies ahead. For Jeff, there was also a practical reason for getting married – he wanted to be able to be by her side during hospital visits and be recognized as her husband. He explained to the outlet that being able to say “my wife” would give him more power in those situations and he didn’t want to miss any part of their journey together.

A little over a week since Jeff and Katie tied the knot, she posted on Instagram that a PET scan revealed some small spots on her liver and her cancer has advanced to stage 4. However, she expressed hope, saying “While stage 4 can be intimidating and indeed it is, I remain optimistic given my triple-positive status and the fact that the liver spots were detected early.

Katie provided information about the change in her treatment plan following a new pathology report on her liver, breast, and lymph nodes. Originally diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer in March 2025, the latest results came back as HER2-negative. This development may mean that chemotherapy is no longer part of her treatment plan, although she expressed mixed feelings due to the ongoing updates in her diagnosis. Katie emphasized that seeking multiple opinions and thorough testing played a significant role in her early cancer journey.

In her ongoing battle against cancer, Katie is taking life one day at a time. On March 31, 2025, she wrote on her Boobie Broadcast channel: “Sometimes I find myself questioning ‘what the hell is going on?’ But no matter how I feel about it, this is my reality, and I have to make the most of it. People say live like you’re dying, but now that I am, it’s harder than it sounds. And remember, we’re all getting closer to death each day, not in a gloomy way, but as an unavoidable part of life. So whether or not I have cancer, I consider myself fortunate for today. So while I may have my sad moments or days, I want to make the most of my time, with or without cancer.”

She’s also sending a crucial message to her followers: “Don’t delay. Be assertive. Get screened,” Katie shared on Good Morning America. “You could be helping yourself in the long run.

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2025-05-07 16:47