‘The Bachelorette’: Katie Thurston Worries Her Life Is ‘Ticking Down’ Amid Cancer Treatment
In 2025, former Bachelorette Katie Thurston revealed she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. The 34-year-old has kept fans updated throughout her treatment, including news that her cancer had spread to other parts of her body. The former reality TV star recently got candid with fans, revealing her concerns as she goes through treatment.
Katie Thurston revealed a cancer diagnosis in 2025
In Feb. 2025, Thurston revealed her cancer diagnosis shortly after receiving the news herself.
“Yesterday I saw all the couples post their Valentine’s Day celebrations. I felt envious if I’m being honest. [Husband Jeff Arcuri] took me to Hawaii and after, we were going to travel the world before planting roots together in NYC finally,” she wrote on Instagram, per Us Weekly. “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 found a lump in her breast in late 2024.
“My first lump [which was a benign cyst] felt like a pea or marble [and] hard, unnatural, but didn’t cause me discomfort. The second felt larger,” she said. “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 Thurston shared how she feels as she navigates cancer treatment
Thurston has been open and vulnerable throughout her cancer treatment. She recently shared some of her concerns on her Boobie Broadcast Instagram channel.
“Last night I dreamt my treatment wasn’t working. And today it’s led me to spiral on the definition of ‘working,’” she wrote. “Is this a bandaid on a cut, allowing time to scab over and reverse the damage or is it duct tape on a sinking ship and my timer is ticking down. I hate to think that way, I have moments where I don’t. And plenty where I do.”
She said she has responded to these concerns by trying to live her life to the fullest.
“I bought an expensive plane ticket last night,” she wrote. “I thought, ‘what’s the point of saving money if to never spend it.’ So I did. I splurged more than normal. And I have to admit, party because if for some reason things went poorly for me, at least I enjoyed my final moments.”
While she doesn’t want to think about her cancer more than she has to, Thurston said she often reflects on how grateful she is to be alive.
“I can hardly touch the cancerous lump anymore,” she wrote. “It’s there. But I don’t want to think on it more than I do. Is it growing? Spreading? Trying to kill me or save me? What is my lesson here God? I’m not sure I’m religious. Attempting to pray feels awkward and full of my ADHD thoughts. But the one sentence I always say to whatever higher power is out there — ‘thank you for giving me today.’”
She said she feels grateful for her husband’s support
Thurston and Arcuri married in 2025, not long after she received her cancer diagnosis. She said his support has meant everything to her.
“I don’t know how I could have done all these early steps without him,” Thurston told Health. “Those first beginning stages of discovering your cancer and all the tests that go with it are the most important times to have a support system.”
Arcuri is a comedian who often travels for work. Thurston said that when he isn’t around, she is able to turn to her online community for support.
“I think being alone is the hardest, if I had to pick something,” she said on Uncomfortable Conversations With Emmanuel Acho. “And that’s why I’m so thankful just to have this online community. Jeff travels a lot for work, so he’s actually gone for the next couple days. And soon this summer, he’ll be gone internationally.”
