Why Katie Thurston, Jeff Arcuri Wed Before Her Cancer Treatment Began
For Katie Thurston and Jeff Arcuri, the vows “in sickness and in health” have taken on a greater meaning.
The Bachelor Nation alum—who was recently diaganosed with breast cancer—revealed that she and the comedian tied the knot March 22, days before she was set to begin treatment. A gesture Jeff said proved he’s not going to let her go through the experience alone.
“I just also want to be able to be in the hospital with her and just be like, ‘My wife’s in there.’” Jeff told Us Weekly in a joint interview with Katie published March 23. “There’s more power to that. And I don’t want to be not with you for any of this. Even though I go back on the road in April.”
“But besides that,” the 36-year-old continued. “I just want to be everywhere with you as much as I can.”
For Katie, 34, who revealed her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis in February—Jeff’s decision was the perfect token of affection in her time of need.
“It’s a sweet sentiment of his offer of you know, being there for me,” Katie—who announced their engagement in September—said. “We’ll still will have a wedding in the future. But it was kinda just this really kind gesture of just him saying like truly, in sickness and in health. He’s proving that he’s here to stay.”
The pair made the spur of the moment decision to say “I do” in front of their parents and one friend—who officiated the ceremony—amid Katie’s preparations for the I-Spy breast cancer trial, which involves several rounds of chemotherapy.
“One night he said I want to show you that I still love you and that I’m here to stay,” the Bachelorette star explained. “And he said I will get married to you tomorrow. And we flew our parents in, we got our marriage license and a friend’s just gonna marry us. I think in our apartment and we’re just gonna go to dinner.”
Katie and Jeff shared their news with fans with a surprise post that shows them holding hands in coordinating wedding attire.
Celebrating the moment, Katie wrote on the March 23 post, “We said 'I do' on March twenty two.”
Days later, Katie shared the heartbreaking news that her trial treatment would be delayed, as doctors found spots on her liver which they believe to be metastatic, leaving her with fears of a stage 4 diagnosis.
“My biopsy is scheduled Friday which would have been my treatment day,” she wrote on her Boobie Broadcast Channel on Instagram March 24. “We now wait.”
“She seemed to be leaning more on the cancer in the liver vs. optimistic,” she continued. “This would put me at stage 4. I’d love to hear from my sisters who are stage 4 in terms of quality of life, motherhood, etc.”
Keep reading to see more stars who’ve shared their cancer journeys…
The All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.
Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.
“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges," he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. "You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”
The former Golden Bachelor star shared in Dec. 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.
"Unfortunately, there's no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn't want to admit to it.”
The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.
"I had to have a lil bit o'cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied," the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. "(In the clear now!)"
The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. "After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me," she shared on Instagram.
The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman "surgically cured."
The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman's rep told E! News that he's "all good" now.
In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, "If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen."
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.
Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.
TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.
The Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer. The mother of four tweeted, "Thx for all the twitter love. I'm [home] recovering & resting."
The Up All Night star was declared "100-percent clear" of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.
The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.
The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.
The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a "minimally invasive" lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer "beat."
The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.
Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he's braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.
The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.
The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease when he was only 28. He's 50 now and looking good!
The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.
The America's Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.
The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.
The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.
The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.
The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.
The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.
The Sex and the City star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and after surgery and radiation treatments, she was given the clear.
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