“Bachelorette” alum Katie Thurston says that breast cancer is affecting her memory. After almost four months of announcing she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer (that has since progressed to stage four), Thurston shared that she has been dealing with critical side effects as she continues to undergo treatment. In this article, you will learn more on Thurston, get the latest updates on her breast cancer battle, and know what she plans to do.
Thurston Says She is Losing Her Memory
Thurston, 34, said in a June 1 Instagram video, “I’m losing my memory.” “Going through customs and them being like, ‘Where are you coming from?’ And I looked at him and I was like, ‘I don’t remember. I don’t remember.” Thurston, who married comedian Jeff Arcuri earlier this year, said that she got into a bit of a “disagreement” with her husband without being able to fully remember the reason for the argument.
She said “I was like, ‘This has happened before,’” Katie recalled telling Jeff. “He was like, ‘When?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know but I know it has!”. She further continued “We’re able to laugh about it now,”. Thurston also said “Cancer is (expletive). Sometimes I’m like, ‘Stop feeling bad for yourself.’ Other times I’m like, ‘You’re allowed to feel bad for yourself. Cancer (expletive) sucks.’”
It is not only her memory that was affected. Thurston also said that her hair has also been “coming out in an unnatural amount of clumps.” All these indicate that things have not been going well for Thurston ever since undergoing stage three breast cancer.
Thurston is Still Optimistic
Despite the challenges she is facing, Thurston says that she is still “optimistic”. The reality TV star has also decided to opt for histotripsy, a non-invasive treatment for liver tumors, at New York University. “I just finished my second month of treatment and if you’re asking how long treatment is, technically forever,” Katie said. “I am optimistic about medical advancements in the future. Fingers crossed as a stage 4 girly.”
She also further added: “It’s National Cancer Survivors Day. Everyday I am alive I’m a survivor. So go with me, I guess.” The season 17 star who first appeared on Season 25 of “”The Bachelor,” also revealed she underwent medically induced menopause last month, but the medication that was meant to suppress her hormones didn’t work out well.
Her Plans Now
The current plan is to switch to another medication, but if that doesn’t work out ”she might have to “get my ovaries taken out.” “Not ideal,” she admitted. “But the vacation was nice. Now I’m back at it again in New York City trying to live my best life as a (expletive) cancer patient.”
She Discovered it Herself
Thurston first revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2025. She said that she grew concerned when she discovered a small lump in her breast during last summer. The news of her diagnosis came five months after she was engaged to Arcuri, a comedian that she met via Instagram in the spring of 2024.
“I discovered it myself,” “The Bachelorette” alum said on Instagram. “Thought maybe it was my period. Maybe it was muscle soreness from working out.” Thurston, who previously had a benign cyst removed from that same breast when she was 20, assumed the new lump was similar to that. However, when it didn’t go away, she decided to get it checked out thinking “it was going to be nothing.”
“I was wrong,” Thurston said, adding her worst fears were confirmed after a series of tests including a mammogram and biopsy.
This is the “Worst Feeling Ever”
During an appearance on “Good Morning America”, Thurston said that the moment she got the news she got breast cancer was “the worst feeling I’ve ever felt.” “You’re so devastated. It’s so shocking. As a 34-year-old woman, you’re not prepared,” Thurston, whose family doesn’t have a history of breast cancer, said on the show.
Pet Scan Detected “Spots On My Liver That Were A Little Suspicious.”
In March 2025, less than a week after she and Arcuri married, Thurston shared that her cancer had metastasized and a recent PET scan also detected “spots on my liver that were a little suspicious.” After undergoing a second biopsy, it was confirmed that the disease (cancer) spread to her liver.
“It is fairly small; however, that does put me at stage IV,” she said. “I know stage IV can sound very scary and it can be; however, given that I am triple positive and the spots on my liver are fairly small and detected early, I feel very optimistic on my outcome. I’m very confident in my team at Columbia.”
Thurston relocated from Los Angeles to New York City for her treatment and transferred her care to a new medical team.
She Wants to Help Others
Thurston wants to document her journey to recovery in the hope of helping others. “One thing I did early on was search for other stories like mine,” Thurston had said in her first announcement. “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.”
Wrapping Up
The path Katie Thurston’s breast cancer travels reveals great bravery, vulnerability, and fortitude. Thurston still has hope and is driven to spread awareness and assist others going through similar struggles despite the physical and psychological toll she experienced. She keeps encouraging bravery and solidarity in the face of one of the toughest obstacles by freely telling her experience. Long term, this will only serve to inspire other cancer sufferers.
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