Katie Thurston recently took to social media to share the distressing news that her breast cancer has advanced to stage four, with doctors confirming that the cancer has spread to her liver. In an Instagram post on Friday, the former “Bachelorette” star expressed, “Unfortunately, I found out today that my breast cancer has spread to the liver.”
Despite the sobering diagnosis, which places her firmly in stage four, Thurston reassured her followers that the cancerous spots on her liver are “fairly small.”
In light of this development, the 34-year-old has a new treatment plan in place, beginning chemotherapy on April 4. She acknowledged, “I know stage four can sound very scary, and it can be,” but she remains “very optimistic” about her prognosis. She believes that being “triple positive” and having caught the liver spots early contributes to her hopeful outlook.
Earlier in the week, Thurston revealed she scheduled a liver biopsy after her doctors in New York ordered a PET scan, which raised suspicions about her liver. “Unfortunately, it detected some spots that were a little suspicious,” she noted in her Instagram Stories.
Thurston first disclosed her stage three breast cancer diagnosis in February, shortly after celebrating Valentine’s Day with her husband, Jeff Arcuri. Reflecting on her emotional journey, she stated, “I experienced a range of emotions: despair, anger, sadness, denial… and then strength.”
The couple recently tied the knot in a heartfelt ceremony in their New York City backyard, attended only by their parents. Thurston shared, “We were hoping to plan a wedding under happier circumstances, but life has its own agenda.”
Vocabulary List:
- Distressing /dɪˈstrɛsɪŋ/ (adjective): Causing anxiety sorrow or pain; upsetting.
- Diagnosis /ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsɪs/ (noun): The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem.
- Prognosis /prɒɡˈnoʊsɪs/ (noun): The likely course of a medical condition or disease.
- Chemotherapy /ˌkiːmoʊˈθɛrəpi/ (noun): The treatment of disease especially cancer by the use of chemical substances.
- Suspicion /səˈspɪʃən/ (noun): A feeling or belief that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
- Strength /strɛŋkθ/ (noun): The quality or state of being strong in particular the capacity to endure or resist.
