FORMER Bachelorette Katie Thurston broke down in tears while appearing on Good Morning America on Wednesday.

The former reality star of the Bachelor and Bachelorette franchises spoke about her “devastating” breast cancer diagnosis and has said that she has to “show up or di3.”

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Katie has spoken out on Good Morning America about her cancer diagnosisCredit: ABC

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Katie starred in The Bachelor and The BacheloretteCredit: Getty

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Katie candidly spoke about her shock diagnosisCredit: ABC

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She also spoke about her fiance and how they thought they’d be planning their weddingCredit: ABC
Speaking to GMA’s Eva Pilgrim about her diagnosis on GMA, Katie explained how she didn’t see coming – especially because she is just 34 years of age.

Katie even revealed that there was no family history of the disease before she got the devastating news.

She said hearing she had breast cancer was “the worst feeling I’ve ever felt.”

“You’re just devastated. It’s so shocking,” she said.

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“As a 34-year-old woman, you’re just not prepared.”

“When I felt my lump, it was sore. As women, we’re used to being told, oh, it’s probably your time of the month, or it’s your time of the month. So I just brushed it off for a while.”

She then spoke about treatment, revealing, “Because of the size of the tumor, I have to do chemo first to shrink it down. Then I can have it removed.”

‘YOU SHOW UP OR YOU DI3’

Katie also spoke about how she has been in “survival mode” ever since she was diagnosed in February.

“You don’t have a choice. You show up or you di3,” she said.

“I hate to say it that way. Every day you have an appointment, every day you have to show up.”

Gerry returning to Golden Bachelorette last night

Katie starred as the lead in season 17 of The Bachelorette in 2021.

She previously appeared on season 25 of The Bachelor but didn’t find love.

She was engaged to Blake Moynes, but they ended their engagement in October 2021 due to “distance.”

Katie later began dating John Hersey, whom she had eliminated during week two of her season.

Who is Katie Thurston?

Katie is American television personality, best known for her appearances on dating-reality shows in the Bachelor and Bachelorette franchise, as well as the career in comedy she has been carving out.

The 34-year-old star shot to fame on The Bachelor in 2021, but failed to find love.

She then was the leading lady of The Bachelorette that same year.

She was engaged to Blake Moynes during her season of The Bachelorette, but the couple sadly split.

Katie and Blake ended their engagement in October 2021 due to “distance”.

At the time of their split, a source told The U.S. Sun: “Katie flew up to Canada early Saturday just a few hours after the comedy show and saw Blake for the first time in a while.

“I don’t think she flew there necessarily knowing it would be a breakup trip, but she knew they’d be forced to address a lot of things that they had been putting off for a while.”

After adding that “distance was a big factor,” the insider alleged: “Blake wasn’t ready to leave Canada and Katie wasn’t ready to move there.

“She just set down new roots in San Di3go and loves it there.”

They continued: “Another big thing they had issues with were their communication styles.

“Katie is much quicker to call little things out whereas Blake just lets things slide.

“Her outbursts eventually became too much for him to handle.”

In June 2024, Katie – who has dabbled in comedy herself – revealed on social media that she was dating comedian Jeff Arcuri.

And last September, they revealed that Jeff had popped the all-important question, with the couple announcing their engagement.

WEDDING PLANS DASHED

Speaking about her marriage plans during her GMA interview, Katie said: “We thought we’d be planning a wedding, we thought we’d be trying for a baby.

“Instead, we know this year is really just dedicated to treatment and getting better.”

She went on to touch on her fiance’s humor, saying: They say laughter is medicine. And I will say him being my partner, I really couldn’t have asked for someone better by my side.

Read More on The US Sun

She later revealed that she and Jess “are okay being a childless couple” if fertility is affected by chemo, though she has frozen her eggs.

Sending a message to other women, Katie said: “Don’t wait. Be proactive. Get checked out. You could be doing yourself a favor in the future.”

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Katie has been in the public eye since starring on The BachelorCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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After her stint on The Bachelor, she was the lead for The BacheloretteCredit: Getty Images – Getty