Olivia Munn, aged 43, made a revealing announcement today on Instagram about her battle with breast cancer. Despite testing negative for 90 cancer genes, including BRCA, and receiving a negative mammogram in February 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer just two months later. Over the last 10 months, she has undergone four surgeries as part of her treatment journey.
Olivia Munn disclosed that she received a breast cancer diagnosis last year, undergoing four surgeries in the past 10 months.
The 43-year-old actress, who graced the Oscars 2023 over the weekend, shared a surprising health update on Instagram earlier today.
She continued, “In the past ten months, I’ve undergone four surgeries, spent countless days in bed, and delved into a profound understanding of cancer, its treatments, and the complexities of hormones—more than I ever anticipated.
Surprisingly, tears have only fallen twice. I suppose I haven’t felt the luxury of time for crying. My focus sharpened, and I set aside emotions that might cloud my clarity.
I’ve chosen to reveal myself to others when I have the energy, when I can dress up and step out of the house, when I can take my baby boy to the park. I’ve kept my diagnosis, worries, recovery, pain medication, and hospital gowns private.
I needed time to gather my strength and navigate through the toughest moments before opening up.”
Olivia went on to commend her OBGYN for calculating her Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score, stating, “Her decision ultimately saved my life.”
“Dr. Aliabadi factored in details like my age, family history of breast cancer, and the timing of my first childbirth. She determined my lifetime risk to be 37 percent.”
Due to that score, I was referred for an MRI, followed by an ultrasound and then a biopsy. The biopsy results revealed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts, known for its aggressiveness and rapid progression.
Just 30 days after the biopsy, I underwent a double mastectomy. It was a sudden transition from feeling perfectly fine one day to waking up in a hospital bed after a 10-hour surgery the next.
Olivia, who attended the Oscars 2024 alongside John Mulaney, emphasized, “I consider myself fortunate. We caught it early enough that I had options. I wish the same for any woman who may face this in the future.”
She urged her followers to request their doctors to calculate their Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score and stressed the importance of regular mammograms and breast MRIs.
Expressing gratitude towards her friends and family, Olivia appreciated John’s unwavering support, acknowledging his dedication to researching every aspect of her treatment. She highlighted his presence before and after each surgery, noting his thoughtful gesture of placing framed photos of their son Malcolm by her bedside.
Olivia concluded her post with appreciation for her friends who had battled breast cancer, as well as the medical staff at Cedars-Sinai in LA and Saint John’s in Santa Monica. She expressed gratitude towards her surgical oncologist, reconstructive surgeon, oncologist, and especially her guardian angel, Dr. Thais Aliabadi.
In her caption, Olivia, mother to two-year-old son Malcolm Hiệp, expressed, “I hope that by sharing this, it will provide comfort, inspiration, and support to others on their own journey.”
John, 41, showed his support with a heartfelt comment: “Thank you for your relentless fight to be here for us. Malc and I cherish you.”
