Jon Gosselin’s girlfriend Colleen Conrad reveals she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer: ‘I had not been doing monthly self-breast exams’
- The mother-of-two was diagnosed back in April and underwent a single a single mastectomy last month
- She told fans in an emotional post on Saturday that she ‘had not been doing [her] monthly self-breast exams’
- Colleen – who has been in a relationship with the Jon & Kate Plus 8 star since 2014 – explained that she is still waiting to see if she needs chemo
Jon Gosselin’s girlfriend Colleen Conrad has revealed that she’s been diagnosed with ‘stage 2, triple-negative’ breast cancer.
The mother-of-two told fans in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday that she was diagnosed back in April, and underwent a single a single mastectomy last month.
‘I have been putting this off and debated even posting,’ she began her post. ‘I went for a mammogram on 4/15. I had put it off for almost 2 1/2 yrs due to lack of time and Covid and later got a call that a mass was found in my right breast.’
Sharing: Jon Gosselin’s girlfriend Colleen Conrad reveals she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer (the couple pictured on Instagram last year)
She continued: ‘Everything after that happened so fast. Then on 4/21, I got the call that is confirmed it was cancer. Stage 2, triple-negative breast cancer. I was BRCA1 and 2 negative. Everything seemed so surreal.’
Colleen – who has been in a relationship with the Jon & Kate Plus 8 star since 2014 – explained that she is still waiting to see if she needs chemo.
‘I had a single mastectomy done on my right breast on 7/14/21 followed by a DIEP Flap procedure on 7/30/21 and I feel good. The DIEP flap was a personal choice for me . I am very happy with the outcome but I also had amazing surgeons at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia.’
Ordeal: Colleen shared her post with fans and included pictures of herself from the hospital
She added: ‘After my surgery I found it had not spread to the nodes, thank God, and they were able to downgrade to stage 1. I’m still waiting on the Oncotype number to see if I need chemo. If less than 25 I won’t.’
Colleen revealed in her emotional post that she ‘broke down and cried’ after finding a lump while in the shower, telling her followers ‘I had not been doing monthly self-breast exams like I should have.’
She went on to say that ultimately the reason why she decided to share the news was to encourage others to get themselves checked.
‘Set a monthly alarm if needed. Even men, who can also get breast cancer. Early detection will make the world of difference and give you a better fighting chance,’ she advised.
Colleen has one more surgery to go through in the next two months and said that currently she is feeling ‘good.’
While she thanked her family for support, Colleen did not mention Jon, 44, in her post – although they still follow each other on Instagram and are believed to be still together.
One fan commented under her post: ‘I hope Jon was there for you as well!’
Jon and Colleen have known each other since their childhood days, and the pair have found happiness together after his tumultuous relationship with ex Kate Gosselin.
Last year, Jon was forced to deny reports that he harmed his teenage son, and has also denied that there is any ongoing investigation into such an incident.
According to a magazine report, Collin Gosselin, 17, had supposedly claimed in a now-deleted Instagram post, that his father Jon kicked and punched him during an altercation that is said to have taken place earlier this month.
However, a rep for Jon Gosselin told DailyMail.com at the time last year: ‘Jon has never abused Collin. No charges have been filed against him and there’s no ongoing CYS investigation.
‘Collin has endured severe trauma. Jon is a loving father who has worked hard to ensure that his son gets the support and help he needs,’ the statement added.
Jon and Kate divorced in 2009 after 10 years of marriage, and found huge fame thanks to their reality series Jon & Kate Plus 8.
The former couple first welcomed their twins in 2001; the sextuplets followed in 2004. Most recently Kate starred in the reality dating series, Kate Plus Date, in 2019.
Happy couple: Jon and Colleen have known each other since their childhood days (Pictured, 2018)