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Katie Thurston’s cancer battle has inspired Ashley Iaconetti to share her own journey with breast awareness.
“I talked about this on the doctor conversation I had about breast cancer that I have had two breast biopsies,” Iaconetti, 36, said on the Tuesday, March 4, episode of iHeartRadio’s “Almost Famous” podcast. “This is, like, so TMI but I mentioned just about the feel of my boobs are different now after having kids than it was prior. They used to be a lot denser. But yes, that is common.”
Last month, Iaconetti — who shares Dawson, 3, and Hayden, 7 months, with husband Jared Haibon — chatted with Dr. Amani Jambhekar about the importance of breast awareness and women knowing what their breasts feel like in order to increase their chances of detecting breast cancer early.
“I’ve always had pretty dense breasts. There was one spot where it was particularly, it was a lump OK,” she said on the February 20 episode of the “Almost Famous” podcast. “I got a mammogram at 22 and an ultrasound and they biopsied it.”
While the Bachelor in Paradise alum remains healthy, she admitted that self checks should be more of a priority in her life going forward.
“I do play with my boobs enough that I would feel them,” she told cohost Ben Higgins. “I think I would notice because of that sort of habit and especially now with the texture or consistency, I would absolutely. I should have more intentional checks.”
Higgins, 35, applauded Iaconetti’s openness after he noticed an increase in younger people receiving breast cancer diagnoses and other difficult illnesses.
“It’s something to talk about,” he said. “We’re thinking about Katie. Goodness gracious, her life has taken such a turn.”
On February 15, Thurston, 34, shocked Bachelor Nation with the news of her breast cancer diagnosis. Since then, ABC’s former Bachelorette has been documenting her next steps, including egg and embryo freezing, chemotherapy treatments and surgery.
“I’m so thankful for my family, friends and community here for helping me make it to my current stage of mind,” she shared via her Instagram Story on February 21. “Today I feel calm, less scared and ready.”
In a separate post, Thurston added, “Going public with my battle was more helpful than I ever anticipated. Thankful for the army standing behind me.”
According to the American Cancer Society, women at average risk for breast cancer should begin getting annual mammograms starting at age 40. Women should also be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and should report any changes to a healthcare provider right away.
Some health professionals also suggest women perform a breast self-exam once a month.
