Cassandra Thorburn, the former wife of television host Karl Stefanovic, has been publicly sighted for the first time since she courageously disclosed her battle with a rare form of breast cancer. The 54-year-old former journalist was observed in the Sydney suburb of Mosman on Thursday, engaging in a shopping excursion.
A Public Appearance in Good Spirits
Dressed in a casual singlet top, a black skirt, and comfortable sandals, Thorburn appeared to be in positive spirits during her outing. She carried a plastic shopping bag prominently displaying the Chemist Warehouse logo, along with a stylish woven leather cross-body bag slung over one shoulder. Her look was completed with tinted sunglasses, delicate drop earrings, and a multi-layered bracelet, while sporting a closely cropped haircut.
An Emotional and Transparent Health Revelation
This sighting comes just one day after Thorburn shared her devastating health news through a heartfelt video posted to her Instagram account. In the emotional clip, she began by referencing a previous post that showed her recently shaved head, explaining her decision to be open about her journey.
"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," Thorburn stated in the video. "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."
She emphasized her commitment to transparency, particularly for her three adult children. "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," she affirmed.
Gratitude for Early Detection and Medical Support
Thorburn revealed that she is the "one in seven" statistic for women in New South Wales affected by breast cancer, a fact she learned during her mammogram. She expressed profound gratitude to BreastScreen NSW for detecting her triple-negative occult breast cancer, a rare and challenging diagnosis.
"My shout-out today is for BreastScreen NSW, who picked up my triple-negative occult breast cancer, which is no small feat if you know what occult breast cancer is. I didn't until now," she shared. "I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And when your mammogram reminder arrives in the mail, don't dilly dally. Do as I did, book it straight away."
She concluded her message with remarkable optimism, stating, "It may have flipped my world in days, but there's no 'why me?' There's no 'poor me' here. Just a desire to stop this in its tracks." Her Instagram caption simply read: "Shout out to BreastScreen NSW. #tnbc."
Understanding Triple-Negative Occult Breast Cancer
Triple-negative occult breast cancer is an uncommon and particularly aggressive form of the disease. In this rare presentation:
- No primary tumour is detectable within the breast tissue itself.
- Cancer cells are typically discovered in the lymph nodes and are identified as originating from breast tissue.
- The cancer is classified as "triple-negative," meaning it lacks estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 protein receptors.
- This receptor status means the cancer does not respond to conventional hormone therapies or HER2-targeted treatments, making chemotherapy and other systemic approaches the primary treatment options.
Personal Reflections and Community Support
In a separate social media post on Tuesday, Thorburn reflected philosophically on her situation, writing, "Life really is like a box of chocolates, and this chapter is giving me praline or truffle vibes." She also thanked the hairdressers at Mosman's Toni&Guy salon for their complimentary clipper treatment through their Pink Scissor Program, a service offered to cancer patients, adding, "It will grow back. Super grateful. #pinkscissors #toniandguyau."
Background and Recent Endeavors
Cassandra Thorburn was married to Karl Stefanovic, host of the Today show, for 21 years before their separation in 2016. The former couple share three children: Jackson, 25, Ava, 19, and River, 18. Stefanovic has since remarried former model Jasmine Yarbrough in 2018, with whom he has a daughter named Harper.
Thorburn initially pursued a career in media and television journalism before pausing her professional aspirations to focus on raising her family. Stefanovic acknowledged this sacrifice in his 2011 Logie Award acceptance speech, thanking her for "giving up" her budding journalism career.
In recent years, Thorburn has engaged in various personal projects and professional roles:
- Publishing a children's book titled Leo Lion’s Big Bed! in 2018.
- Appearing as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars in 2019.
- Working extensively in the not-for-profit sector for nearly a decade, including roles supporting homeless youth.
- Transitioning to sales and support positions within Sydney's aged care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph in 2024 about her work in aged care, Thorburn explained, "During Covid I became a carer for the elderly and this aligned with wanting to work in the aged care sector. The aged care sector is one that has a lot of good people working in it but there is a lot of work that needs to be done to allow aged people to live their best lives."
Thorburn's public appearance following her health disclosure demonstrates her resilience and commitment to facing her diagnosis with courage and openness, while continuing to advocate for breast cancer awareness and early detection through regular mammograms.
