Why Katie Thurston Is “Very Optimistic” Amid Breast Cancer Battle

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Katie Thurston has a good feeling about an upcoming date with her doctor.

Since sharing her breast cancer diagnosis in February, the former star of *The Bachelorette* has openly discussed her treatment process. In April, she revealed that the cancer had unfortunately advanced to stage four.

After learning in July that her tumors had shrunk thanks to treatment, the 34-year-old is optimistic about her upcoming checkup.

Despite everything, I’m doing well,” she shared with TopMob News at The Pink Agenda’s annual New York City Gala on October 9th. “I have a scan scheduled for Monday to check on my progress, and I’m feeling hopeful about the results.”

Throughout her battle with cancer, Katie has realized just how much she loves and appreciates her husband, Jeff Arcuri, whom she married in March.

Let me tell you, going through something like cancer is incredibly tough, and you absolutely shouldn’t try to do it by yourself. I’ve seen firsthand how crucial it is to lean on the people who love you – your friends and family. But having a partner, someone truly *with* you through every appointment, every good day, and every bad… well, that makes all the difference in the world. It’s honestly been everything for so many people I’ve worked with.

Plus, cancer has helped Katie see the world through a different lens. 

She explained that she’s learned everyone faces hidden struggles. Because of this, she tries to be more understanding, especially with people she doesn’t know. If someone is behaving rudely or slowly, she reminds herself they might be dealing with personal difficulties, and chooses to respond with kindness.

I’m so proud to see Katie really using her platform to give back! She recently attended The Pink Agenda’s gala, and it was amazing to see them raise $340,000 for breast cancer research and care. And honestly, it’s comforting to know she’s still one of us, still following all the drama in Bachelor Nation!

She actually wants to see Taylor Frankie Paul, from *Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*, become the next *Bachelorette*.

Katie believes the series needs a significant change. She’s interested to see how they’ll accomplish this, considering the main character is a mother and wants to remain in Utah with her future husband.

She explained that she hopes they choose truly exceptional people for the show, but admitted finding genuinely good contestants on reality TV can be challenging.

Read on for a look back at Katie’s breast cancer journey.

—Reporting by Nikaline McCarley

I was so worried when Katie Thurston shared her story. She found a small lump in her breast during the summer of 2024, and at first, she thought it might just be related to her period or maybe some muscle soreness from working out. She’d actually had a non-cancerous cyst removed from the same breast when she was only 20, so she initially assumed this was something similar. But it didn’t disappear like she expected, so she went to the doctor to get it checked out. She honestly thought it would be nothing, but unfortunately, she was wrong. It’s so brave of her to share this and encourage everyone to get checked!

Katie received a breast ultrasound after her doctor recommended she see a specialist. This was followed by a mammogram and then a biopsy. She shared in a video on Instagram on March 18, 2025, that only the biopsy could confirm if she had breast cancer, and she remembered the moment she received the news as the worst feeling of her life.

Speaking on *Good Morning America* on March 19, 2025, Katie, who has no family history of the disease, described the shock and devastation of receiving a stage 3 diagnosis at age 34, saying she wasn’t prepared for it. She initially shared the diagnosis with her followers on February 15, 2025.

In an Instagram post, Katie described the emotional rollercoaster she experienced – from despair and anger to sadness and denial – before finding strength and a sense of purpose. She admitted to crying a lot. Katie plans to document her journey to help others facing similar challenges. She explained that she searched for stories from other young women with breast cancer – specifically invasive ductal carcinoma, who had undergone mastectomies, and who had navigated pregnancy after cancer – and found them incredibly helpful. She wants to provide the same support to others, and sees sharing her experience as the first, and most difficult, step towards acceptance and fighting the disease.

Katie received her diagnosis five months after getting engaged to comedian Jeff Arcuri, whom she met on Instagram in spring 2024. She shared with *GMA* that they had been planning a wedding and starting a family, but now their focus is on her treatment and recovery.

To preserve the possibility of having children, Katie and Jeff underwent IVF, retrieving 17 eggs. Unfortunately, only 6 were fertilized, and after testing, they were able to freeze 2 viable embryos. Katie detailed the process on Instagram, emphasizing the realities of IVF.

They also discussed the possibility of using a surrogate in the future, and Katie used her platform to ask people to refrain from judging celebrities who choose surrogacy, as they may be facing unseen challenges. Despite their desire for a family, Katie and Jeff are also content with the possibility of remaining a childless couple.

Katie and Jeff decided to get married on March 22, 2025, in New York, after Katie moved across the country to be with him following a long-distance relationship. They had a small, intimate ceremony in their apartment’s backyard with their parents, the officiant, and their new dog, Charlie.

Katie shared with *Us Weekly* that the decision came during a difficult time with her health. Jeff wanted to reassure her of his love and commitment, telling her he wanted to marry her right away. He wanted to demonstrate that he would be there for her, no matter what.

They plan to have a larger wedding celebration in the future, but Jeff’s spontaneous proposal was a way of showing his unwavering support. He also explained to the outlet that being able to say “My wife” when visiting her in the hospital felt important and empowering – he didn’t want to face her illness as just her boyfriend.

Just days after Jeff and Katie got married, Katie revealed that a scan showed cancer had spread to her liver, now at stage 4. In a video posted on March 28, 2025, she acknowledged that stage 4 cancer can be frightening, but she remained hopeful. She explained that because her cancer is triple-positive and the spots on her liver were small and found early, she feels positive about her chances of recovery.

After receiving a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Katie shared details about her treatment plan. Initially, she was told her liver cancer was a result of her breast cancer, meaning the breast cancer would be the primary focus, and she would begin six rounds of chemotherapy.

However, just before starting chemo, she received unexpected news. On April 4, 2025, Katie posted on Instagram that recent tests showed her cancer was HER2 negative, despite earlier tests indicating it was HER2 positive. This meant she needed to meet with her doctor to understand the discrepancy and how it would affect her treatment.

As a result, Katie said it appeared chemotherapy was no longer an option. While she acknowledged this could be seen as positive, she also expressed frustration with the changing diagnoses she’d received over the past two months. She believes getting thorough testing and a second opinion has been crucial in understanding her cancer early on.

Katie is facing her cancer diagnosis with courage, taking each day as it comes. In a recent post, she admitted to questioning what life has become, but emphasized the importance of making the most of her situation. She acknowledged the common advice to ‘live like you’re dying’ is harder to follow when you actually are, but also reminded everyone that we’re all moving closer to the end, regardless of illness. Katie focuses on appreciating each day, cancer or not, and encourages others to do the same. She recently shared a vital message on *Good Morning America*: don’t delay – be proactive about your health and get regular checkups. It could save your life.

Nearly two months in treatment, Katie shared another new reality. 

In an Instagram post from June 1, 2025, she revealed she’s been experiencing memory loss. She described a recent experience at customs where an officer asked her where she was coming from, and she realized she couldn’t remember.

You know, life happens! I recently had a small disagreement with my husband, but honestly, the details are a bit fuzzy now. It’s funny how quickly those little moments can fade, isn’t it? It just goes to show you don’t need to dwell on every little bump in the road.

I told Jeff, ‘This feels like it’s happened before.’ He asked when, and I replied that I didn’t know exactly, but I was certain it had.

She said they could finally find humor in the situation, but acknowledged cancer is awful. She swings between telling herself to stay positive and allowing herself to feel upset, because dealing with cancer is incredibly difficult.

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2025-10-11 03:47