Cassandra Thorburn, 54, the ex-wife of Karl Stefanovic, has shared that she recently received a diagnosis of a rare and fast-growing type of breast cancer.
On Wednesday, the journalist and former Dancing With The Stars contestant revealed some heartbreaking health news on Instagram. This came after she had posted a picture of herself with a shaved head the day before.
‘I’m going to have to read this because on my walk this morning, I thought about all the reasons why I made that post yesterday,’ Cassandra began.
‘Most of it is controlling the only part of my treatment and diagnosis that I can. That’s the part about when the hair comes off and when you tell people. For my adult children and for myself, I’m not interested in hiding and that’s because I’m not alone. I’m not walking a path that is not well travelled by many women before me and I will not be the last.
In New South Wales, where I live, about one in seven women will develop breast cancer. I recently had a mammogram and realized I was one of those women when I received the results.
The mother of three also expressed her gratitude for the support she’s received from Australia’s healthcare system.
I want to give a shout-out to NSW Breast Screen. They detected my aggressive, hidden breast cancer, which is incredibly difficult to find – I didn’t even know hidden breast cancers existed until my diagnosis.
I’m truly grateful to them. And when you get your mammogram reminder, please don’t delay – schedule your appointment right away, just like I did.
She finished her video on a positive note, explaining that while her life had changed quickly, she wasn’t dwelling on misfortune. Instead, she expressed a strong determination to overcome the situation.
Occult triple-negative breast cancer is a rare type where a tumor isn’t detectable in the breast itself. Instead, cancer cells – typically found first in the lymph nodes – are determined to have started in the breast.
This cancer is called “triple-negative” because it doesn’t have the receptors for estrogen, progesterone, or HER2. This means treatments that target those receptors won’t work, and doctors usually treat it with chemotherapy and other medications that affect the whole body.
On Tuesday, Cassandra subtly suggested she was sick by posting a picture on Instagram of her shaved head, with a mysterious message about life’s unexpected turns.
She described life as unpredictable, like a box of chocolates, and said this current phase felt sweet and luxurious, like enjoying a praline or truffle.
Oh my gosh, Toni and Guy’s Pink Scissors program is seriously the best! The team at Mosman gave me the most amazing clipper cut, and honestly, even though it’s short now, I know it’ll grow back – and it’ll be worth it! I’m just so incredibly grateful to them. Seriously, best haircut ever! #pinkscissors #toniandguyau
Toni&Guy’s Pink Scissor Program is a complementary hair-cutting service offered to cancer patients.
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2026-02-25 04:48