Summary
- Olivia Munn shared an Instagram post on Wednesday revealing her private battle with bilateral breast cancer.
- Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi’s assessment saved Munn’s life by catching aggressive cancer.
- Munn’s bravery in sharing her journey was praised by fans and celebs.
Olivia Munn shared an Instagram post on Wednesday detailing her private battle with bilateral breast cancer. The X-Men actress hopes that sharing her journey would help others “find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey.” Munn shared that her cancer was found just two months after having a normal, routine mammogram and months after testing negative for over 90 cancer genes.
“I wouldn’t have found my cancer for another year – at my next scheduled mammogram – except that my OBGYN, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, decided to calculate my Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. The fact that she did saved my life. Dr. Aliabadi looked at factors like my age, familial breast cancer history, and the fact that I had my first child after the age of 30. She discovered my lifetime risk was at 37%. Because of that score I was sent to get an MRI, which led to an ultrasound, which then led to a biopsy. The biopsy showed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. Luminal B is an aggressive, fast moving cancer.”
Thirty days after her biopsy, Munn underwent a double mastectomy. Munn’s Instagram post included a pre-surgery clip with Dr. Aliabadi as she comforts Munn.
“I went from feeling completely fine one day, to waking up in a hospital bed after a 10-hour surgery the next. I’m lucky. We caught it with enough time that I had options. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day,” Munn shared.
Munn urged women to ask their doctors to calculate the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score; according to her doctor, if the number is greater than 20%, an annual mammogram and breast MRI are needed beginning at 30.
Olivia Munn Receives Praise for Speaking Out on Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Munn says she kept her diagnosis and “the recovery and the pain medicine and the paper gowns private” as she needed to “get through some of the hardest parts before sharing.” Munn shared her gratitude for her family and friends and called out partner John Mulaney for researching operations and medications, and what side effects and recovery Munn could expect and for being there for every surgery she underwent. Mulaney and Munn welcomed a son, Malcolm, in November 2021. Her Instagram carousel ends with a picture of Mulaney and their baby atop a hospital table.
Munn’s post was met with praise and admiration from other celebrities and fans, many of whom believed that Munn’s reveal would help save lives. This includes Dr. Aliabadi, who commented:
“You are my hero. Your post will save so many lives. I love you so much.”
Mulaney wrote:
“Thank you for fighting so hard to be here for us. Malc and I adore you.”
Munn is known for her work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, series including The Newsroom, Hit-Monkey, and New Girl, and films like Office Christmas Party, X-Men: Apocalypse, Magic Mike, and Violet. She is next set to star in the AppleTV+ seriesYour Friends and Neighbors with Jon Hamm.
To learn more about risk assessment tools and the American Cancer Society’s recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer, please visit cancer.org.
You can read Olivia Munn’s full statement below.
