Cassandra Thorburn has taken a pointed swipe at her former husband Karl Stefanovic after revealing she has completed treatment for a rare form of breast cancer and has not heard from him since making her diagnosis public.
Thorburn, 55, was diagnosed with triple-negative occult breast cancer in February. The condition is unusual because cancer is found in the lymph nodes or surrounding tissue without a primary tumour being visible in the breast.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, she said she had become determined to control her own story after years of being portrayed by sections of the media as Stefanovic’s “bitter ex-wife”.
Thorburn said that coverage had left her with an “inherent distrust” of the media and influenced the way she addressed her illness publicly. She shared photographs and videos of herself during treatment, including one showing her with a shaved head.
Asked whether Stefanovic had contacted her after she announced the diagnosis, Thorburn replied: “No, I know who he is. It’s others that don’t.” She also suggested the television presenter had always been interested in “clickbait” when his podcast was discussed.
Thorburn and Stefanovic were married for 21 years and share three children. They announced their separation in 2016 before divorcing the following year.
Her cancer was detected during a routine mammogram after screening by NSW Breast Screen. Thorburn has said the scan showed a grey area near her underarm, despite there being no obvious lump in her breast.
She underwent months of treatment, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. She is now cancer-free and has urged women not to ignore screening reminders, saying the routine mammogram may have saved her life.
