Olivia Munn Courageously Opens Up About Her Breast Cancer Battle
Olivia Munn bravely shares her breast cancer battle and survival story, advocating for early detection and risk assessment.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Olivia Munn has shared her diagnosis of breast cancer with her followers. Her intention behind revealing this personal struggle is to offer comfort, inspiration, and support to others navigating similar challenges. February 2023 marked a pivotal moment for Munn when she underwent a genetic test for 90 cancer genes, receiving negative results across the board, including for the BRCA gene, commonly associated with breast cancer.
Despite a normal mammogram in the winter, she was soon confronted with the shocking discovery of her condition. Over the past ten months, Munn has undergone four surgeries and endured countless days in recovery, gaining an extensive knowledge about cancer, its treatments, and hormonal impacts that she never anticipated.
Munn's journey has been one of immense resilience and minimal tears, focusing intently on her health and recovery rather than dwelling on her emotions. She has maintained a private battle, sharing her struggles only when she felt strong enough to venture out, emphasizing the importance of taking time to navigate the hardest parts of her journey in solitude before opening up to the public.
The detection of her cancer came about through the proactive measures of her OBGYN, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, who calculated Munn's breast cancer risk assessment score. This calculation, taking into account factors such as age, family history, and age at first childbirth, revealed Munn's lifetime risk of breast cancer to be 37 percent. This led to further examinations, ultimately discovering Luminal B cancer in both of her breasts—an aggressive form of the disease.
Within a month of her biopsy, Munn underwent a double mastectomy, a swift and drastic measure reflecting the seriousness of her situation. Grateful for the early detection, Munn emphasizes the importance of women asking their doctors for a breast cancer risk assessment score, advocating for annual mammograms for those with a risk higher than 20 percent after the age of 30.
In her detailed post, Munn extends her gratitude towards her support system of friends, family, and the medical staff at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and Saint John’s in Santa Monica. She specifically acknowledges her partner, John Mulaney, for his unwavering support during this challenging time, highlighting his efforts in research and care throughout her surgeries and recovery.
Mulaney's response to Munn's post, expressing his admiration for her strength and resilience, underscores the deep bond and mutual support within their family. Munn's story is not just one of personal struggle, but also of the power of support, love, and proactive healthcare management.”
