Bachelorette Alum Katie Thurston, 34, Announces She Has Breast Cancer: ‘Ready to Fight This’ tram

Bachelor Nation alum Katie Thurston has breast cancer.

The 34-year-old — who was a contestant on season 25 of The Bachelor and the star of The Bachelorette’s 17th season — announced her diagnosis in a “life update” on Saturday, Feb. 15, thanking her fiancé, comedian Jeff Arcuri and stating she is “ready to fight this.”

In the emotional Instagram post, the Bachelorette alum shared two photos of herself smiling and a lengthy caption, which she began with, “Life update: I have breast cancer.”

“Yesterday I saw all the couples post their Valentines Day celebrations. I felt envious if I’m being honest,” she continued. “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.”

Rather than celebrating the holiday with Arcuri, Thurston “used my morning to figure out insurance for NYC and laws on preexisting conditions,” she wrote. “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 was diagnosed with cancer two weeks prior to the post, she revealed, writing that she “experienced a range of emotions” during the period. “Despair. Anger. Sadness. Denial. And then strength,” she wrote. “Purposeful. Ready. I cried a lot. I tried to even make a video instead of this post and couldn’t.”

“But one thing I did early on,” she wrote, “was search [for] 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,” Thurston wrote. “This first step of acceptance of my reality was the hardest. But I am ready to fight this.”

The former Bachelorette concluded her post by thanking her “extraordinary husband to be,” writing that she had “saved the best for last.”

“I don’t know how I’d do this without you,” she wrote of Arcuri. “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. 🤍.”

Thurston’s emotional announcement was met with lots of support, including several messages in the comments from fellow Bachelor Nation alumni, including Jade Roper and Kaitlyn Bristowe.

“Sending you all my love during this time, Katie. Cancer doesn’t know who they’re dealing with, you got this. ❤️❤️❤️,” said Roper, while Bristowe wrote, “Katie omg I love you please can I do anything for you? I’m texting you now.”

Clare Crawley also commented, “I’m so sorry Katie, you are a warrior of a woman and I’m sending you a big hug and so many prayers for your strength. ❤️ here for you always.”