Katie Thurston Reports Progress in Breast Cancer Treatment

Katie Thurston is sharing positive news amid her cancer journey. The former Bachelorette star, whose diagnosis has progressed to stage four metastatic breast cancer since originally announcing her diagnosis in February, said the first scan following her cancer treatment plan revealed that her tumors have shrunk.

"Today the scans confirmed the tumors are SHRINKING!!" the 34-year-old wrote in her July 7 Instagram post, continuing, "This is amazing news and I am so relieved!"

Although her treatment seems to be going well so far, Katie explained that it actually took her months to seek help and get her treatment started.

"I was diagnosed almost five months ago with breast cancer. But if I’m being honest, I found the lump maybe 12 months ago," she wrote. "I was 33 years old with no family history. Why would I ever suspect cancer - but it was."

Ultimately, this led her to have to make many decisions very quickly, and she had to adapt as her disease progressed. While she waited to pursue IVF and then to join a clinical trial, she ultimately had to reroute as her cancer became stage four.

"People don’t realize, as it stands now, I’ll be on a treatment plan for life. There isn’t a cure for breast cancer," she wrote. "But as long as funding for medical research continues, especially for metastatic survivors, then we have a chance at continuing a long healthy life."

Leading up to the important scan last week, Katie shared how she had been feeling.

"July 7 is my big check-in scan to see how the meds are working with my tumor,” Katie explained in a July 3 Instagram video. “Good news would be either no growth or even shrinkage.”

She continued, "When those monthly scans or appointments come and go, I allow myself the next 28 days to really forget that I have cancer."

Katie, who was on a Greek vacation with husband Jeff Arcuri during the update, continued, “I think cancer is a trained mindset of, I don’t want to say optimism necessarily, but you have to shift how you think.”

She added, “Here in Greece on vacation, I enjoyed wine, I enjoyed the desserts, I enjoyed the memories that I’m making, because what’s the point of not living when you’re given today, when you’re given life?”