Katie Thurston opens up about living with incurable stage four breast cancer, her marriage to Jeff Arcuri, and why she remains optimistic about the future.
Former Bachelorette star Katie Thurston is opening up about the life changes she’s faced since revealing her stage four breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Speaking with fellow franchise alum Kaitlyn Bristowe on her Off The Vine podcast, the 34-year-old reality TV personality shared candid updates on her health, marriage, and plans for the future.
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Thurston revealed she takes four pills daily and receives a monthly injection that suppresses her ovaries, allowing the possibility for in vitro fertilization in the future. While she describes her treatment as “maintenance” rather than traditional chemotherapy, she shared positive news from her recent checkup — her tumors have shrunk, and the cancer that had spread to her liver is no longer visible on scans.
She credits her mindset as an important part of her journey, using visualization techniques to stay positive. “Every night, I picture a little Pac-Man just eating away at this little devil,” she said, noting that she allows herself to experience emotional highs and lows as part of the healing process.
One of her toughest challenges has been memory loss, which she says would make traditional full-time work nearly impossible. Luckily, her career in social media allows her the flexibility to adapt when symptoms affect her focus.
Thurston married comedian Jeff Arcuri in March, just days before beginning treatment for what was then stage three breast cancer. She believes her health battle has strengthened their relationship. “He married me when a lot of people might leave,” she said, praising Arcuri for his sacrifices and emotional support.
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Although her cancer is incurable, Thurston remains hopeful. “Technically, medically, I will have breast cancer forever. But with so many advancements happening and the way that I caught it when I did, I’m very optimistic,” she shared.
Looking ahead, she plans to undergo a double mastectomy in the coming months, followed by breast implants — a decision she admits comes with mixed feelings after finally feeling confident in her body.
With no family history of breast cancer, Thurston is urging others to advocate for their health. She recalled initially dismissing her symptoms after reading that breast cancer lumps typically aren’t painful. “I want people to take their health seriously and be confident enough to have these conversations with their doctor,” she said, emphasizing that early action could save lives.
