Former 'Bachelorette' star Katie Thurston, 34, diagnosed with breast cancer: 'Ready to fight'
Former "Bachelorette" Katie Thurston has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The outspoken former lead of the rosy reality series, 34, revealed her diagnosis in a lengthy Instagram post Saturday, sharing "Life update: I have breast cancer."
Thurston wrote: "Yesterday I saw all the couples post their Valentines 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."
Thurston added that she was "ready to fight" amid her cancer diagnosis.
"But one thing I did early on was search other stories like mine. Other young women with breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma. Mastectomy. 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," Thurston said.
She continued: "I used my morning to figure out insurance for NYC and laws on preexisting 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."
Thurston wrote that she "experienced a range of emotions over the past two weeks," telling her followers she felt "despair. Anger. Sadness. Denial. And then strength. Purposeful. Ready," adding that she cried "a lot" and "tried to even make a video" instead of her photo post.
The Season 17 star, who first appeared on Season 25 of "The Bachelor," closed her note by thanking her husband, comedian Jeff Arcuri, for his support during her health journey, writing that she "saved the best for last."
"To my extraordinary husband to be @jarcuri - 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 wrote.
Thurston's news comes amid reports that a new season of "The Bachelorette" will not air this summer, according to Entertainment Weekly and Deadline. ABC has apparently stopped production of the female-led "Bachelor" spinoff series, skipping a show cycle for the first time since 2007. Recent seasons of "The Bachelorette," including Jenn Tran's season, have aired in the summer.
Katie Thurston broke new ground as 'Bachelorette' lead
In June 2021, Thurston became a groundbreaking "Bachelorette" lead with her signature confrontational nature and smooth confidence. As a breakout "Bachelor" contestant known for being pro-sex and anti-drama, the 31-year-old bank marketing manager from Renton, Washington, brought her own spin to the reality TV dating franchise.
As a fan favorite on Matt James' historic season of "The Bachelor," Thurston aimed to squash drama when things got ugly between other contestants. James, who has courted controversy in recent weeks after splitting from his final rose recipient Rachael Kirkconnell, was the franchise's first Black male lead. Thurston entered as the "Bachelorette" after a racial controversy involving Kirkconnell's past complicated James' season.
Thurston broke off her engagement with her ex-fiance from the show Blake Moynes shortly after her season ended and later dated bartender John Hersey from her season of the show. In 2023, she starred on another dating show, "FBoy Island."
The end of her season turned rocky with back-to-back self-eliminations from frontrunners Michael Allio, the widowed father who cared for Thurston but struggled being away from his young son, and Greg Grippo, who got the first impression rose but reached his breaking point when he expressed love for Katie but didn't feel validated enough.
Contributing: Hannah Yasharoff, Amaris Encinas