Ali Fedotowsky-Manno of The Bachelorette and Special Forces and her husband, Kevin Manno, made a major health announcement on social media this week.
In a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, Jan. 26, the couple shared Kevin’s recent diagnosis with papillary thyroid cancer—noting that it’s a “very treatable” cancer.
“We always try to be open and honest. We’re open books with our lives,” Kevin said in the clip. “We want to give you guys a quick update about something that’s happening over here in the Manno family, but I’m not stressing about it.”
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“I know that Ali shared this recently that I had to go in for a scan—a biopsy and then a CT scan,” he continued, adding, “And it came back that I do have thyroid cancer. But I’m not freaking out.”
While Kevin has two malignant spots on his right side, the cancer appears to be in one lymph node only, though they “won’t know for sure” until Kevin’s surgery (at which point he’ll get either half his thyroid or his entire thyroid operated on).
“The prognosis is very good,” Kevin explained. “It looks good. It’s going to be something that I can go in, Feb. 10 is the surgery, and we’re going to knock it out and it’ll be behind us.”
“I need to be positive,” he added later in the video.
Ali shared the encouraging words Kevin’s oncologist had for the couple.
“The first thing he said to us was, ‘If you have to get cancer, this is the cancer you want to get,'” she said, also admitting the experience has “changed [her] perspective on every day life and truly, you never know when you’re going to wake up tomorrow and things could change.”
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In the caption, Ali encouraged fans to “please share any experiences you have with thyroid cancer.
“We are specifically curious about stories related to whether or not you or someone you know had their full thyroid or half of it removed with the cancer only on one side,” she added.
The reality star’s followers and friends were quick to show their support in the comments, including fellow Bachelor Nation members Molly Mesnick and Raven Gates Gottschalk.
“Kevin — you’re a rockstar — you’ve got this! 💪🏻❤️,” Mesnick declared.
“Prayers all goes well feb 10th!!! ❤️🙌 💪,” Gottschalk added.
Ali, 40, and Kevin, 41, share two children: daughter Molly Sullivan, 8, and son Riley Doran, 6.
Next: The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons—Ever!: A Look Back in Photos at Ali Fedotowsky’s Bachelorette Journey
