Katie Thurston revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The “Bachelorette” alum, 34, took to Instagram Saturday to share the health update, telling her fans that she’s “ready to fight” the disease.
“Yesterday I saw all the couples post their Valentines Day celebrations. I felt envious if I’m being honest,” Thurston wrote in the caption, alongside a black-and-white photo of the smiling reality star.
“Jeff [Arcuri] took me to Hawaii and after, we were going to travel the world before planting roots together in NYC finally. But instead, my Vday was spent coordinating a place to live as I have to go back to LA for more testing and treatment,” she added.
Thurston — who is in the process of moving from California to New York with her fiancè, Arcuri — continued, saying she spent the morning sorting through her insurance in the Big Apple and researching the “laws on preexisting conditions. “
“I scheduled appointments for another biopsy, fertility, mental health, surgery, as well as meeting with my team to discuss the overall treatment plan, which will include chemo,” she explained.
Thurston revealed she was told of her cancer diagnosis earlier this month.
“I experienced a range of emotions over the past two weeks. Despair. Anger. Sadness. Denial. And then strength. Purposeful. Ready. I cried a lot. I tried to even make a video instead of this post and couldn’t,” she continued.
However, throughout this difficult time, Thurston shared that she’s been able to find strength in listening to other “stories like [hers]” from other women.
“All of their stories helped. So I intend to be the same for others,” she said.
“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.”
The Bachelor Nation star closed with a special message for her fiancé.
“To my extraordinary husband to be @jarcuri – I don’t know how I’d do this without you,” she wrote. “The selfless love that you smother me in is beyond anything I imagined I’d be blessed with. I love you to the fullest in this lifetime and the next.”
Thurston made her TV debut on the 25th season of “The Bachelor” alongside Matt James. She then went on to star as “The Bachelorette” for the show’s 17th season, in which she briefly got engaged to Blake Moynes. The former couple split after less than three months.
