Katie Thurston Diagnosed With Breast Cancer: Health Updates

Bachelorette alum Katie Thurston revealed in February 2025 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer at just 34 years old. She opened up about what spurred her to get checked out by a doctor and what the next steps entail.

How Was Katie Thurston’s Breast Cancer Discovered?

Katie revealed her breast cancer diagnosis on February 15, 2025, via her Instagram Stories. The reality star shared that she had previously discovered a cyst in her breast that ended up being benign. When she found another lump, she assumed it was a similar situation.

“I had a small lump in my breast around the 10 o’clock spot,” Katie wrote. “I discovered it myself. Thought maybe it was my period [or] maybe it was muscle soreness from working out. But, eventually, this lump never went away.”

The former Bachelorette star continued, “[I] thought maybe it was [a benign cyst] again. Went to the doc thinking it was going to be nothing. I was wrong.”

Katie added that this time the lump was “painful,” which she said led to more “doubt and delay” on getting it checked out because “most websites” said that “breast cancer doesn’t hurt.”

“I thought it was PMS or working out … My first lump (benign cyst) felt like a pea or marble [and] hard, unnatural, but didn’t cause me discomfort. The second felt larger,” Katie explained. “The pain initially came and went, but maybe after 3-4 months of it not going away or improving, I got nervous and saw my doctor.”

Katie’s physician ordered a breast ultrasound and a mammogram.

“Lol at this selfie I took before knowing my life was going to change. I went in for a breast ultrasound. Afterwards [they] sent me to get my first mammogram. And then I had to get multiple biopsies taken and sent off for testing to confirm,” Katie wrote alongside a photo of herself in a hospital gown.

What Is the Stage of Katie Thurston’s Breast Cancer?

Katie revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in February.

However, the ABC alum shared an unsettling update regarding her diagnosis in March as her upcoming treatment was required to be paused after doctors found spots on her liver, indicating that her cancer could be metastatic and may have spread to other parts of her body.

“My biopsy is scheduled Friday which would have been my treatment day,” the reality star wrote via her Boobie Broadcast Channel on March 24, 2025. “We now wait.”

“She seemed to be leaning more on the cancer in the liver vs. optimistic,” Katie added. “This would put me at stage 4. I’d love to hear from my sisters who are stage 4 in terms of quality of life, motherhood, etc.”

Just four days later, Katie confirmed that the cancer had spread to her liver.

“After days of waiting, unfortunately, I did find out today that my breast cancer has spread to the liver,” she shared in an Instagram video on March 28, 2025. “It is fairly small, however it does put me at stage four.”

She wrote alongside the clip, “43 days since diagnosis and still no treatment? There is a lot of testing and prep that goes into cancer treatment. One important test is checking to see if the cancer has metastasized (spread). Unfortunately for me, mine has and I am now #stage4breastcancer. I’ll finally start my treatment next week.”

Katie Thurston Plans to Undergo Chemotherapy and Have a Mastectomy

Katie previously announced that she would be receiving chemotherapy, as well as having a mastectomy. She’s also taking steps to freeze her eggs in order for her and now-husband Jeff Arcuri to have children in the future.

“Not sure on the order yet. My fertility will be impacted by chemo. I have an appointment with my fertility doctor to preserve my eggs [first],” Katie explained.

Katie Thurston Revealed She’s ‘Not OK’ 1-Month After Revealing Diagnosis

A month after publicly announcing her diagnosis, the Bachelor Nation alum provided an update on her health and confessed to fans that she has been “emotionally not OK” since learning about her cancer.

“In the first four weeks that I’ve been pursuing treatment and moving and changing doctors and insurance, you almost don’t have time to sit in it and reflect,” she explained during the March 19, 2025, episode of the “Almost Famous” podcast. “Even leading up to the confirmation with the biopsy results, I think I was even in denial because there’s I was like, ‘There’s no way, there’s no way,’ and to be honest, I think even now there’s still a level of denial.”

Katie hoped that after starting treatment, she would be able to “process emotions better.”

“It’s not your fault,” she said while giving advice to others faced with the same health battle. “I think a lot of women when diagnosed go like, ‘What did I do? It wasn’t my birth control? Should I have been vegan? Should I have been vegetarian? Was it my makeup?’ You start trying to psychoanalyze everything that you’ve ever done in your life and blame yourself.”