Former Bachelorette Katie Thurston is “going to kick cancer’s ass,” according to her friend Jess Ambrose.
Days after Thurston, 34, shared her diagnosis with breast cancer, Ambrose said on the Monday, February 17, episode of the “Your Mom & Dad” podcast that her friend is “simultaneously the kindest and strongest person I know.”
“And when I say kind, I’m talking about the type of kind where, you know, after barely knowing you for a little bit, she hears you once mentioned that you and your family love going to the beach together, and so then the next time she comes and visits, she’s bought beach chairs and towels and says, ‘I thought you would enjoy these,’” Ambrose continued.
Thurston “just thinks about people and loves people harder than anyone I have ever met,” Ambrose gushed. “And the people who are close to her see this on the regular, and I just have to say that because, you know, a lot of people don’t even know to what extent she’s constantly helping people because she doesn’t talk about it.”
Ambrose got emotional as she reflected on feeling “heartbroken” and “f—ing enraged” for her friend before sending a message to listeners. “We have such an incredible, incredible community here … and I would love and encourage you all to just flood Katie’s DMs with love and encouragement,” she continued. “And I’m not just talking about right now … Words mean so much, so if we can just flood those DMs.”
Thurston announced her diagnosis via Instagram on Saturday, February 15, writing, “Life update: I have breast cancer. Yesterday I saw all the couples post their Valentine’s Day celebrations. I felt envious if I’m being honest. [My fiancé] 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, “I used my morning to figure out insurance for NYC and 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.”
Thurston and Arcuri, who got engaged in 2024, are currently in the middle of moving from California to New York.
“To my extraordinary husband-to-be @jarcuri,” she continued. “I don’t know how I’d do this without you. 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.”
Along with Ambrose, Thurston’s friends from Bachelor Nation sent their love and support following her reveal, from Kaitlyn Bristowe and Clare Crawley to Thomas Jacobs and Andrew Spencer.
