Karl Stefanovic’s ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn confirms devastating health news and reveals her shaved head
Karl Stefanovic’s ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn, 54, has revealed she’s been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.
The journalist and former Dancing With The Stars contestant shared her devastating health news in a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday.
She began the clip by referring to the post she had uploaded a day prior, in which she sported a newly-shaved head.
‘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,’ said Cassandra.
‘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.
‘Breast cancer affects one in seven women in New South Wales, which is where I live. I read that sitting for my mammogram not long ago and I was the one in seven that day.’
Karl Stefanovic’s ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn, 54, revealed on Wednesday that she’s been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer
The journalist revealed her newly-shaved head as she explained she has been diagnosed with Triple-negative occult breast cancer
A day earlier, Cassandra had indirectly revealed her diagnosis by sharing an Instagram photo of herself with a newly-shaven head alongside a caption about surprises in life
The mother-of-three then praised the Australian health system for all the assistance she has received so far.
‘My shout-out today is for NSW Breast Screen, 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.
‘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 ended her video with optimism, saying: ‘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 it’s tracks.’
In the caption, Cassandra simply wrote: ‘Shout out to Breastscreen NSW. #tnbc.’
Triple-negative occult breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer where no tumour can be found in the breast, but cancer cells – usually discovered in the lymph nodes – are identified as originating from the breast.
The cancer is ‘triple-negative,’ meaning it lacks estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors, so it cannot be treated with hormone or HER2-targeted therapies and is typically managed with chemotherapy and other systemic treatments.
On Tuesday, Cassandra indirectly spoke about her diagnosis by sharing an Instagram photo of herself with a newly-shaven head alongside a caption about surprises in life.
The mother-of-three praised the Australian health system for all the assistance she has received so far
Cassandra was married to Today host Karl for 21 years before their acrimonious split in 2016. (Pictured together in 2011 at the Logie Awards)
In recent years, Cassandra has focused on her own projects, including publishing a children’s book (Leo Lion’s Big Bed!), appearing on Dancing With the Stars in 2019, and working in community and care roles. (Pictured on Dancing With The Stars alongside dance partner Marco De Angelis)
‘Life really is like a box of chocolates and this chapter is giving me praline or truffle vibes,’ she wrote.
She went on to thank her hairdressers at Mosman’s Toni&Guy for their clipper treatment, adding: ‘It will grow back. Super grateful. #pinkscissors #toniandguyau.’
Toni&Guy’s Pink Scissor Program is a complementary hair-cutting service offered to cancer patients.
Cassandra was married to Today host Karl for 21 years before their acrimonious split in 2016.
The couple share three children: Jackson, 25, Ava, 19, and River, 18.
Karl has since moved on with former model Jasmine Yarbrough, who he married in 2018 and with whom he shares daughter Harper.
Cassandra began her career as media personality and television journalist, before putting her professional aspirations on hold to raise her three children.
Karl thanked her in his 2011 Logies winning speech for ‘giving up’ her budding career as a journalist to focus on her family.
Cassandra began her career as media personality and television journalist, before putting her professional aspirations on hold to raise her three children
In 2022, Jackson told Woman’s Day how much he loves his mother.
‘Mum’s our rock – she’s very happy and she continues to inspire me every day,’ he said.
In recent years, Cassandra has focused on her own projects, including publishing a children’s book (Leo Lion’s Big Bed!) in 2018 and appearing on Dancing With the Stars in 2019.
She has also spent almost a decade working in not for profit sector to support the local community, including a role helping homeless youth.
In 2024, Cassandra revealed she was working in sales and support for the aged care sector in Sydney.
‘During Covid I became a carer for the elderly and this aligned with wanting to work in the aged care sector,’ she told The Daily Telegraph at the time.
‘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.’
