Katie Thurston is taking her fans with her on her health journey.
The Bachelorette alum shared updates on her upcoming treatments after revealing that her breast cancer has spread to her liver, resulting in a stage 4 diagnosis.
“The plan is essentially the same as my breast cancer,” the 34-year-old wrote on her Instagram Stories March 28. “The cancer that is within the liver is from the breast cancer spreading vs a new type of cancer. So in basic terms, my breast cancer is the root and will be the focus. Six rounds of chemotherapy to start.”
Thurston shared a photo of her cancer port and explained her chemo treatments will be spread out three weeks apart, adding, “A treatment is essentially a dedicated day to travel/infusions/recovery.”
She also noted that she plans on “cold capping”—meaning she will wear a special helmet that is aimed at preventing hair loss during chemotherapy—and is weighing her options for surgery.
“Given my circumstances, I’ll probably opt for a double mastectomy with breast reconstruction which is covered by insurance,” Thurston wrote. “Some options are implants or DIEP Flap (which uses my own fat).
The reality star confirmed her stage 4 diagnosis earlier that day, more than a month after she revealed she has breast cancer, and said her treatments will begin next week. She also shared her update six days after she married comedian Jeff Arcuri after a six-month engagement.
The comic, who has a source of support for Thurston, is scheduled to resume touring in April after a seven-week break. As a result, Arcuri may not be able to accompany his now-wife to her earliest cancer treatments.
“He will probably miss the first three,” Thurston wrote on her Instagram Stories, “but the good news is, if I’m up for it, I can still travel to where he is as early as the next day.”
Meanwhile, Thurston and her husband have been undergoing IVF treatment to preserve her fertility by creating and freezing embryos for future use.
“My fertility treatments were supported and approved by my oncologist as well,” Thurston wrote on her Instagram Stories. “I was on a fast track program to take ten days to preserve embryos. My oncologist felt it was important to tell me today that my fertility preservation did not impact my cancer diagnosis.”
The two are leaning toward working with a gestational surrogate. “Jeff and I discussed the importance of my health and that when the time comes, surrogacy will likely be the best option for us,” Thurston wrote. “A friendly reminder to stop judging celebrities who pursue surrogacy because you don’t know what they have going on in their personal lives.”
Thurston also shared how her cancer diagnosis has shifted her outlook on life and relationships.
“I know long term, a lot will change for me,” she said. “In the immediate mindset, I’ve been both pleased and disappointed by who I have and haven’t heard from. Ultimately, not everyone is meant to be in your life forever. Some people are simply a season. Thank them for their time and move onward.”
Going into cancer treatments, Thurston noted she is not afraid. “Scared: 0,” she wrote. “Sad: 7 Pain: 5 Tired: 10 Ready: 100.”
Read on for more about celebs’ cancer journeys…
Colin Egglesfield
The All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.
Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.
“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges,” he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. “You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”
Gerry Turner
The former Golden Bachelor star shared in Dec. 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.
“Unfortunately, there’s no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn’t want to admit to it.”
Jim Beaver
The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.
Ariana Madix
“I had to have a lil bit o’cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied,” the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. “(In the clear now!)”
Marcia Cross
The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. “After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me,” she shared on Instagram.
Dustin Hoffman
The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman “surgically cured.”
Hugh Jackman
The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman’s rep told E! News that he’s “all good” now.
In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, “If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen.”
Camille Grammer
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.
Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
Gordon Ramsay
Alongside a pair of photos that show a line of stitches running from the bottom of his ear to his jaw, which he later covered with a bandage, the British celebrity chef shared that he underwent a procedure to treat skin cancer.
“Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast reactive work on removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma,” Gordon wrote on Instagram August 2025. “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend.”
“I promise you it’s not a face lift,” he added. “I’d need a refund…”
Cobie Smulders
The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.
Dr. Drew Pinsky
TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.
Brooke Burke
The Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer. The mother of four tweeted, “Thx for all the twitter love. I’m [home] recovering & resting.”
Angie Everhart
“MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! #wootothemotherf–kinhoo,” the actress tweeted after receiving the good news.
Christina Applegate
The Up All Night star was declared “100-percent clear” of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.
Michael C. Hall
The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Michelle Monaghan
The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.
Ewan McGregor
The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.
Sheryl Crow
The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a “minimally invasive” lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
Michael Douglas
The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer “beat.”
Edie Falco
The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.
Anderson Cooper
Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he’s braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.
Kylie Minogue
The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.
Barry Watson
The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease when he was only 28. He’s 50 now and looking good!
Maura Tierney
The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.
Sharon Osbourne
The America’s Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.
Robert De Niro
The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.
Robin Roberts
The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.
Lance Armstrong
The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.
Melissa Etheridge
The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.
Julia Sweeney
The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.
