'Bachelorette’ Star Katie Thurston Finds Strength in Her Dog Amid Breast Cancer Battle
“Bachelorette” star Katie Thurston, 34, is giving fans some insight on how she gets through some of her toughest days while battling metastatic breast cancer. She leans on her dog, Charlie, for emotional support.
Research published in JCO Oncology Practice highlights the benefits of animal therapy—including pet and horse therapy—for individuals living with chronic conditions or cancer. It helps reduce anxiety, improve mental health, and promote relaxation.
A medically reviewed report suggests that pet therapy can lessen the need for pain medication in chronic pain patients while also boosting mood, lowering stress, reducing anxiety, and alleviating loneliness and social isolation.
Recently, Thurston shared that her tumor is continuing to shrink following her six-month scan, a hopeful sign in her stage 4 breast cancer treatment journey that her current treatment is working.
Originally scheduled for a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts), Thurston has chosen to delay the procedure after consulting with her doctors, citing the need to stay on medication without interruption.
While some patients believe a double mastectomy offers the best protection, experts emphasize that survival rates are similar between mastectomy and lumpectomy with radiation, depending on individual factors like tumor size, genetic mutations, and cancer location.
Katie Thurston, 34, known from “The Bachelorette,” has been honest with her supporters about the physical and emotional toll of living with metastatic breast cancer. Amid the treatments and the relentless “what ifs,” she’s found a source of comfort that never wavers—her dog, Charlie.
“10/10 recommend a dog when diagnosed with cancer,” Thurston shared in a heartfelt Instagram post, cradling her golden-brown pup. Charlie, she says, has been a steady companion through some of her darkest moments.
The post struck a chord with followers. “Nothing like the unconditional love of a dog,” wrote Instagram user Caren Beth. Another user, James Young, added, “Our fur babies have an unlimited capacity to love unconditionally, to lift our spirits when they feel heavy, and to hold our hearts when our hearts are fragile.”
The healing power of animals is well documented. Research published in JCO Oncology Practice affirms, “Therapy dogs can decrease anxiety, improve mental health, and increase relaxation,” making pet therapy a valuable tool for patients facing serious illnesses.
Pet therapy, a form of animal-assisted intervention (AAI), includes canine-assisted interactions (dog therapy) and equine-assisted therapy (horse therapy), offering both physical and emotional benefits. Findings published in Integrative Cancer Therapies, a peer-reviewed journal, highlight the positive impact of animal therapy on cancer patients.
Animal therapy is categorized into two forms: animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapies. The former includes casual interactions such as meet-and-greets, while the latter involves structured programs designed to achieve specific health outcomes. For example, horseback riding therapy is used to improve mobility in cancer patients.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 09: Katie Thurston attends The Pink Agenda Annual New York City Gala at Tribeca Rooftop on October 09, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Pink Agenda)
Thurston’s social media post about her dog and his ability to ease her emotions during treatment comes shortly after she underwent her six-month check-in to see how well her treatment is working.
She recently shared that her tumor is “shrinking.”
Thurston had been preparing for a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) next month, but the encouraging results have led her to postpone the procedure. After consulting with her medical team, she explained, “Major surgery requires pausing medication for an extended period of time.”
Thurston first revealed her diagnosis in February 2025, announcing she had stage 3 triple-positive ductal carcinoma—a rare and aggressive subtype of luminal breast cancer. According to Cancer Cell International, “Triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC), a unique subtype of luminal breast cancer, is characterized by concurrent positivity for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).”
This subtype accounts for only 5–10% of all breast cancer cases and typically requires a multi-pronged treatment approach, including chemotherapy, HER2-targeted therapy, and hormone (endocrine) therapy.
Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, advocates for the therapeutic use of animals for cancer patients. She emphasizes the profound connection between mindfulness and animal interactions.
“The foundations of mindfulness include attention, intention, compassion, and awareness… All of those things are things that animals bring to the table. People kind of have to learn it. Animals do this innately,” Berger told the NIH.
Ongoing research continues to explore the deeper impact of animal therapy on patients battling illnesses, with the NIH actively participating in several studies.
“We’re trying to tap into the subjective quality of the relationship with the animal, part of the bond that people feel with animals, and how that translates into some of the health benefits,” said Dr. James Griffin, a child development expert at NIH.
WATCH: Richard Marks meets Bowie while undergoing chemotherapy.
Dogs, in particular, are commonly used as therapy animals for both children and adults. Studies show therapy dogs can help children with ADHD improve focus, while adult patients—especially those undergoing intense medical treatment—also experience significant benefits.
Cancer survivor Richard Marks, who battled bone marrow cancer, previously shared his experience with SurvivorNet, crediting his rescue dog, Bowie, for helping him cope during chemotherapy.
“When I’m doing chemotherapy, I’m waiting, and time goes by. Maybe I’m worrying about my numbers or how treatment is going. And all of a sudden, a cute little dog goes by, and then I’m not thinking about those things,” Marks told SurvivorNet.
“I’m only thinking about that dog,” he added.
Katie’s Ongoing Treatment
Thurston previously shared that her treatment regimen includes three key medications:
Kisqali (ribociclib): Approved by the FDA in 2017, this targeted therapy is used in combination with endocrine therapy to treat HR+/HER2- breast cancer. It works by slowing the progression of cancer, offering a more tolerable alternative to traditional chemotherapy.
Lupron (leuprolide): A hormone therapy injection that lowers estrogen levels in the body, helping to prevent the cancer from growing.
Letrozole: An aromatase inhibitor that reduces the body’s estrogen production, commonly used in postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
Treatment Options for Advanced Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage 4) means cancer cells have spread from the breast to other parts of the body, which may include the bones, liver, lungs, brain, and beyond.
Breast cancer spreads through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The blood carries cancer cells to different body parts, where they grow as new tumors.
As the cancer spreads to other body parts, patients may experience additional symptoms depending on where the cancer has spread. Examples include:
Bones: Severe bone pain or fractures
Lungs: Difficulty breathing, chest pain, new cough
Liver: Yellowing of the skin (jaundice), abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting
Brain: Headaches, memory loss, changes in vision, seizures
WATCH: Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer.
Although stage 4 breast cancer is not curable, several treatment options exist that can extend the life of patients. Treatment options depend on the stage, type of primary breast cancer, and whether hormone receptors are positive.
Treatment can include a combination of:
Chemotherapy: Oral or IV medications that are toxic to tumor cells
Hormonal therapies: Drugs that lower estrogen levels or block estrogen receptors from allowing the cancer cells to grow
Targeted therapies: Drugs that target your tumor’s specific gene mutations
Immunotherapy: Medications that stimulate your immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells
Radiation: The use of high-energy rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors
Surgery: To remove a cancerous tumor or lymph nodes (uncommon with stage IV; more common in stages I, II, and III)
Clinical trials: Studies of new medications, treatments, and other therapies offer hope for better outcomes.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re facing the option of having a mastectomy, here are some questions to consider asking your doctor:
What can I do to prepare for a double mastectomy?
What happens before and after the procedure?
For reconstruction, what are the benefits of using implants over my own tissue and vice versa?
