Cassandra Thorburn has shared a heart-rending health update in the midst of her cancer battle.

The ex-wife of Karl Stefanovic revealed she had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer in February.

Cassandra, 55, took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal that she was taking her cancer journey one day at a time.

She shared a selfie that showed her completely without hair as a result of chemotherapy treatment, as she offered people in a similar situation a ‘virtual hug.’

‘A one foot in front of the other kind of day walking to chemo treatment today,’ she wrote.

‘Sending everyone on the chemo journey, especially those of you on your own, a virtual hug.’

Cassandra Thorburn has shared a heart-rending health update in the midst of her cancer battle
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Cassandra Thorburn has shared a heart-rending health update in the midst of her cancer battle

The ex-wife of Karl Stefanovic revealed she had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer in February
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The ex-wife of Karl Stefanovic revealed she had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer in February

She then gave a sobering insight into her own cancer journey.

‘I am with you in the dark of the night when the house is quiet and your thoughts are loud. Giving meditation a shot tomorrow,’ she wrote.

The post was met with an outpouring of support from friends and followers.

One commenter, picking up on Cassandra’s comments about being ‘on your own’, offered: ‘You are very brave. I’m sorry you’re alone.

‘Is there none of your children or friends or relatives that could take turns being with you? That’s very scary, I would be a mess.’

In reply, Cassandra revealed that she had family support, but added that she did not want to worry the three children she shares with Karl – Jackson, 25, Ava, 19, and River, 18 – with her ‘fears’.

‘I have my children and my mum is visiting soon. But you cannot burden your children with many of your fears, for they are the very reason you have them,’ she wrote.

Cassandra added that she felt cancer is a singular journey despite the level of support.

'A one foot in front of the other kind of day walking to chemo treatment today,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Sending everyone on the chemo journey, especially those of you on your own, a virtual hug'
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‘A one foot in front of the other kind of day walking to chemo treatment today,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘Sending everyone on the chemo journey, especially those of you on your own, a virtual hug’

Replying to on commenter who was concerned about Cassandra's comments about being alone, Cassandra said that she did not want to worry the three children she shares with Karl – Jackson, 25, Ava, 19, and River, 18 – with her 'fears'
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Replying to on commenter who was concerned about Cassandra’s comments about being alone, Cassandra said that she did not want to worry the three children she shares with Karl – Jackson, 25, Ava, 19, and River, 18 – with her ‘fears’

‘Cancer just feels like a solo journey, unless you have people close to you who have had cancer themselves, I suspect,’ she wrote.

‘And often it is lying alone at night that the inner demons come out to play. Hence the ‘solo’ journey or a single person.’

Another follower summed up the sentiment of many with: ‘You are beautiful and brave, amazing and inspirational.

‘Thank you for documenting your journey and sharing honestly how it feels. One day at a time.’

The journalist and former Dancing With The Stars contestant shared her devastating health news in a video posted to Instagram in February.

She began the clip by referring to a post she had uploaded a day prior, in which she showed her recently 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,’ Cassandra said.

‘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 have my children and my mum is visiting soon. But you cannot burden your children with many of your fears, for they are the very reason you have them,' she wrote. (Cassandra is pictured with her daughter Ava)
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‘I have my children and my mum is visiting soon. But you cannot burden your children with many of your fears, for they are the very reason you have them,’ she wrote. (Cassandra is pictured with her daughter Ava)

Cassandra was married to Today host Karl for 21 years before their acrimonious split in 2016
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Cassandra was married to Today host Karl for 21 years before their acrimonious split in 2016

‘I’m not walking a path that is not well travelled by many women before me and I will not be the last.’

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 its tracks.’

Cassandra was married to Today host Karl for 21 years before their acrimonious split in 2016.

Karl has since remarried, tying the knot with former model Jasmine Yarbrough in 2018. The couple share a daughter, Harper, five.

Cassandra began her career as a 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.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15720617/Karl-Stefanovic-ex-Cassandra-Thorburn-shares-heartbreaking-message.html