Star Shares Emotional Comeback and Family Updates
- Former "Bachelorette" star Katie Thurston shared an encouraging update on her metastatic breast cancer journey during an interview on "Good Morning America" on Thursday, revealing that recent scans...
- Thurston, who was diagnosed at age 34, said she received the news after a six-month scan earlier in the week.
- She first shared her diagnosis in February 2025 in an Instagram post, explaining it began after she noticed a small lump she initially dismissed.
Former “Bachelorette” star Katie Thurston shared an encouraging update on her metastatic breast cancer journey during an interview on “Good Morning America” on Thursday, revealing that recent scans show her tumor is still shrinking.
Thurston, who was diagnosed at age 34, said she received the news after a six-month scan earlier in the week. “The medicine is still working. The tumor is still shrinking. And when you’re Stage 4, that’s really all you can hope for,” she told co-anchor Robin Roberts.
She first shared her diagnosis in February 2025 in an Instagram post, explaining it began after she noticed a small lump she initially dismissed. She was later diagnosed with Stage 3 triple-positive ductal carcinoma, which occurs when breast cancer cells use estrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) protein to grow, according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The cancer then escalated to Stage 4 after it spread to her liver, as reported by “Good Morning America.” Despite the advanced diagnosis, Thurston remains hopeful due to medical advancements.
“I refuse to view this as terminal illness or a death sentence,” she said. “I really trust medicine and the future of breast health. That’s kind of what keeps me going each day.”
Thurston encourages young women to be vigilant about their health, advising them to know their bodies and consult a doctor if something feels or looks off, regardless of age. She noted that current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines suggest most women with average risk begin mammogram screenings every other year at age 40.
“Breast cancer really can happen before you’re 40,” Thurston said, adding that many think “cancer is reserved for later in life.” “That is just simply not the case, and I’ve met so many women under 40 who have been diagnosed.”
Her update comes as she continues to advocate for early detection and awareness, using her platform to challenge misconceptions about who can be affected by breast cancer.