“July 7 is my big check-in scan”: Katie Thurston reveals next steps in her stage 4 breast cancer treatment in recent Instagram update

Katie Thurston, the former Bachelorette alum, is facing stage 4 breast cancer with honesty and courage. On July 3, she shared an update in a video on Instagram.

"July 7 is my big check-in scan, to see how the meds are working with my tumor," shared Thurston.

She said good results would mean the tumor is not growing or is getting smaller. But if it grows or spreads, that would be “not‑so‑good” news. Katie was first diagnosed in February 2025. In March, she learned the cancer had spread to her liver.

She says she tries not to think about cancer all the time. Between check‑ins and scans, she pushes the thoughts aside. She says, “Cancer is a trained mindset.” She shifts how she thinks so she can stay strong. Just before this, she had skin biopsies. The results came back benign. That was a relief.

Katie Thurston says her scans and tests help her feel in control. She admits she was scared at first, but now she prepares for good or bad news. She has not asked her doctor how much time she has left. Her doctor did not share that. She says,

"My oncologist never told me how much time I have left, and I've never asked. Stage 4 is a very scary mentality, at times, because it is forever."

Katie Thurston is preparing for the July 7 Scan and Embracing Life

Katie Thurston filmed her update at the end of her trip in Greece. She said she was leaving fun moments behind to enter the “reality of cancer” when she got back. She said scans tell her whether her medication, Kisqali, is helping to stop cancer from growing. She hopes to see no change or even shrinkage of her tumor. If it grows or spreads more, that will be “not‑so‑good”.

Her July 7 scan will be a CT, bone density scan, blood test, and MRI. Katie Thurston said these help doctors see how the cancer is changing. She also had a PET scan to check if the cancer had spread to her liver.

While in Greece, Katie Thurston allowed herself to enjoy each day. She shared that she had wine, sweet foods, and special moments with her husband, Jeff Arcuri. She said living in the moment is important.

“What's the point of not living, when you're given today? When you're given life?”

Treatment Plan, support, and hope

Katie Thurston's cancer is hormone‑positive and HER2‑negative, and it has spread to her liver. Her doctors call it stage 4. This means her cancer will be treated for a long time, likely as a chronic illness. She is taking oral medicines and monthly injections. For now, she is not undergoing chemotherapy. She said some people avoid chemo if they can because it's very tough. She said she feels hopeful about her path.

Katie Thurston and her husband froze embryos before starting treatment. This was to keep the chance of having a baby later. She is open about the emotional toll of cancer. She cried when she talked about how stage 4 can feel like walking into the unknown. But she also said she feels stronger because she has people who care.

She has lost hair and has memory issues following her treatment. Thurston also faced grief when someone she knew with breast cancer passed away. Still, she keeps working through her feelings by staying busy and focusing on hope.

She is grateful for the support from other cancer survivors. She said they remind her that stage 4 is not the end. It can mean living with cancer for a long time. Katie hopes sharing her journey helps others. She wants more young women to check their bodies and get help early. She said she would have gone to the doctor sooner if she had someone in her group like her now–someone young with cancer.

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