Katie Thurston, former star of The Bachelorette, has provided an encouraging update on her health one year after being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
In a video posted on Instagram, Thurston revealed that her recent MRI and PET scans showed her tumor is now “stable” and has shrunk by 50 percent since her diagnosis. “While that is a good thing, it is the first time in a year that my tumor isn’t shrinking, that it just is stagnant, which had me kind of spiraling a little bit,” she shared.
The reality star admitted she initially worried her treatment might not be working, but her oncologist reassured her that the tumor’s stability is positive and that no new line of treatment is needed. “When you first start treatment, your body is in shock. Suddenly I’m in menopause, suddenly I’m on really strong medication. So, it is common for the tumor to shrink significantly up front and then slow down as treatment continues,” Thurston explained.
Alongside this progress, Thurston revealed plans for a double mastectomy. “My latest update is that this Friday I’m going to be meeting with my surgeon to pursue a double mastectomy. My surgeon had approved it for my situation, and I’m going to go over things in detail to figure out what that looks like,” she said, calling it “a very big next step in my cancer treatment journey.”
Fans and followers have praised Thurston for her openness, courage, and resilience, following her ongoing journey with stage 4 breast cancer.