The Bachelorette’s Katie Thurston is celebrating the small victories following her breast cancer diagnosis.
“Finished biopsy. Went much better this time,” Thurston, 34, wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, February 19. “Took lorazepam, explained my last appt struggles and asked for more numbing, and they allowed [my fiancé] Jeff [Arcuri] to be there holding my hand. Waiting between appointments for the next one.”
Earlier in the week, Thurston announced she was headed to the doctor for a lymph node biopsy.
The procedure is done to help diagnose cancer and see if it has spread beyond the primary tumor. The information helps a patient’s provider plan treatment, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“I still cried,” Thurston shared in her latest Instagram Story when recalling the appointment. “I don’t know why I even bothered to try and put mascara on today, but the numbing was much better. All the music recommendations you gave and the recommendations helped a lot. … Making progress today.”
The reality star said she was also expected to undergo a CT scan and then a consultation for a treatment plan later in the day.
Earlier this month, Thurston first learned she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She later shared the news with her social media followers in a candid post on Saturday, February 15.
“I experienced a range of emotions over the past two weeks. Despair. Anger. Sadness. Denial. And then strength. Purposeful. Ready. I cried a lot,” Thurston recalled. “One thing I did early on was search other stories like mine. Other young women with breast cancer. Invasive distal carcinoma. Mastectomy. Pregnancy after breast cancer. All of their stories helped.”
She concluded, “So I intend to be the same for others. This is day one of sharing and is going to be a long one. This first step of acceptance of my reality was the hardest. But I am ready to fight this.”
Thurston, who rose to fame on Matt James’ season of The Bachelor in 2020 before she became the Bachelorette in 2021, has received support from numerous members of Bachelor Nation, including Kaitlyn Bristowe, JoJo Fletcher, Andi Dorfman and other Bachelorettes.
The encouragement from friends and fans alike does not go unnoticed by the reality star.
“Thank you all for your love and support,” she wrote via a separate Instagram Story on Tuesday, February 18. “Going public with my battle was more helpful than I ever anticipated. Thankful for the army standing behind me.”
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