Katie Thurston, The Bachelorette Star on Fertility, Self-Advocacy, and Stage 4 Cancer

In this episode of SHE MD Podcast, Katie Thurston, former star of season 17 of The Bachelorette, sits down with Mary Alice Haney and Dr.Thaïs Aliabadi to discuss fertility, breast cancer, and navigating life as a public figure. They explore Katie’s journey from the Bachelorette, her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, fertility preservation, and strategies to maintain confidence and resilience. Listen to gain guidance on self-advocacy, genetic testing, and building supportive communities while taking control of their health journey. This episode delivers hope, practical advice, and inspiration, empowering listeners to prioritize their wellness, advocate for their care, and embrace life fully, even in the face of serious health challenges. Subscribe to SHE MD Podcast for expert tips on PCOS, Endometriosis, fertility, and hormonal balance. Share with friends and visit SHE MD website and Ovii for research-backed resources, holistic health strategies, and expert guidance on women’s health and well-being. Sponsors: Mirena - To learn more, visit mirena.com and ask your provider if Mirena could be an option for you. To view the full prescribing information, visit mirena.com/pi Rocket Money - Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to rocketmoney.com/shemd today. Peloton - Let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com David’s Protein - David is giving my listeners an exclusive offer – buy four cartons and get the fifth free at davidprotein.com/shemd Cymbiotika - Go to Cymbiotika.com/Shemd for 20% off plus free shipping Get Joy - As a listener of SheMD, you’ll get 50% off your first subscription order of Get Joy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food plus two exclusive gifts: a free scoop and a 4oz bag of treats. Shop getjoyfood.com/shemd to support your dog’s gut health and overall wellness What You’ll Learn How Katie Thurston navigated fertility preservation and freezing eggs Strategies for managing stage 4 breast cancer with optimism and resilience The importance of genetic testing and early breast cancer detection Building supportive communities and advocating for your own health Key Timestamps (00:00) Introduction with Katie Thurston, Mary Alice Haney, and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi (04:03) Katie’s journey navigating a cancer diagnosis and her personal life (05:15) Early cancer diagnosis, fertility preservation, and freezing eggs (13:10) Navigating treatment, clinical trials, and holistic wellness approaches (19:30) History of family cancer and genetic testing (29:00) Journey to starring on The Bachorlette (34:30) Online dating, relationships, and finding love while managing health (39:54) Daily life of treatment, including Lupron injections, scans, and managing side effects (47:00) Advocacy, the Booby Broadcast, and educating others on breast health and genetic testing (53:30) Reflecting on confidence, personal growth, and lessons from public life (57:35) Episode wrap-up, actionable advice for listeners, and resources Key Takeaways Fertility preservation and proactive health decisions empower long-term wellness Building strong support systems helps navigate the emotional toll of cancer Genetic testing and early detection are critical for personalized care Confidence and self-advocacy improve outcomes and mental health Publicly sharing your journey can inspire, educate, and save lives Guest Bio Katie Thurston first appeared on television in 2020 on The Bachelor before stepping into the spotlight as The Bachelorette. Ultimately finding love on her own terms, she married comedian Jeff Arcuri, and together they now reside in New York City. Shortly after her move, Katie was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer—a journey she now shares openly to raise awareness and empower others to advocate for their health. Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekatiethurston/ Resources Mentioned Wisdom Panel – Free genetic testing for personalized breast cancer screening and prevention strategies https://www.thewisdomstudy.org/ Booby Broadcast – Katie Thurston’s community for breast cancer support on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thekatiethurston/ Nodal – Online platform for matching surrogates and intended parents https://www.nodal.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .