Overview
- Katie Thurston announced on January 19 that her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, sharing the news in an Instagram post.
- She said her mother’s December mammogram was read as negative and probably benign, with dense breasts noted but no supplemental imaging recommended.
- After Thurston urged further testing, a breast ultrasound detected suspicious masses, and subsequent MRI and biopsies confirmed cancer within two weeks of the 'normal' mammogram.
- Thurston encouraged people with dense breasts or higher risk to request additional screening such as ultrasound and MRI.
- Thurston, who is being treated for stage 4 breast cancer, recently reported no detectable cancer in her liver but elevated liver enzymes that prompted a pause in medication, and one outlet reported her mother’s cancer as stage 4 without wider confirmation.