Katie Thurston has opened up about how the passing of Ananda Lewis, a fellow Stage 4 breast cancer warrior, has deeply impacted her own journey with the disease. The 34-year-old "Bachelorette" star took to her Boobie Broadcast channel over the weekend, sharing that Lewis's death sent her into a whirlwind of emotions.
Lewis, a former MTV VJ who later hosted her own talk show, passed away this month after a prolonged battle with Stage 4 breast cancer, aged 52. On Saturday, Thurston, striving for acceptance regarding her own diagnosis, confessed, "While I'm currently more accepting about my condition, the loss of my sister Ananda Lewis had me in a tailspin for an entire day."
"I've been keeping myself occupied and my mind distracted, which has been a tremendous help," she added.
Lewis had first disclosed her Stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis through an Instagram video in October 2020, revealing that she had been diagnosed two years prior and had skipped regular mammograms due to her concerns about radiation. In October 2024, she appeared on CNN to announce that her cancer had metastasized, advancing to Stage 4. Despite her doctor's advice, she had chosen not to undergo a double mastectomy.
"Initially, my plan was to eliminate excessive toxins from my body. I believed in my body's intelligence; I knew it to be true. Our bodies are marvelously crafted," Lewis shared with anchor Sara Sidner and close friend Stephanie Elam. "I decided to keep my tumor and attempt to work it out of my body in a different way. I wish I could turn back time," she added. "It's crucial for me to acknowledge where I went wrong."
Thurston admitted that she wouldn't emulate Lewis's approach to her cancer journey, expressing her eagerness to have her tumor removed. "A holistic path demands an extraordinary level of discipline that I simply lack," she said. "I've made lifestyle adjustments (and am working on more), but I'm also relying on medication."
"What terrifies me about mine is that it's still inside me too," Thurston added, referring to her tumor. "I'm eagerly anticipating my double mastectomy."
Thurston first revealed her Stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis in an Instagram post in February. In March, she returned to the platform to share that her cancer had progressed to Stage 4 and had spread to her liver, just five days after her wedding to comedian Jeff Arcuri.
"After days of anticipation, I unfortunately learned today that my breast cancer has spread to my liver. It's relatively small, but it puts me at Stage 4," she disclosed in an Instagram video.
This month, Thurston once again took to social media to reveal that she was starting to lose her hair and memory. "Right now, after completing two months of medication, my hair is falling out in unusual clumps," she shared. "I'm experiencing memory loss."
"Cancer is crap," Thurston added. "Sometimes I tell myself to stop feeling sorry for myself. Other times, I remind myself that it's okay to feel sorry for myself. Cancer really sucks."
