Published Mar 24, 2026

Breast Cancer Survivor Olivia Munn Enjoys ‘The Most Special Day’ At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Details
Transcript
Save This Video

Navigating a Childhood Cancer

Actress Olivia Munn, a mom of two and survivor of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, is inspiring fans with her generosity following a recent visit to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Munn was diagnosed with breast cancer despite a “normal” mammogram and testing negative for the BRCA gene mutation, which elevates the risk for breast and ovarian cancer. At the request of her OBGYN, Munn underwent a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment, which led to the discovery of her cancer after additional screening.
Although childhood cancer research has historically been limited, one of our experts says progress is being made. Targeted therapies and various immunotherapy approaches—first developed and tested in adults—are now entering clinical trials for pediatric patients. As a result, doctors could soon have a wider range of treatment options available for children diagnosed with cancer.
Caregivers need to watch for signs of burnout, which can develop when ongoing stress, exhaustion, frustration, or health problems arise from constantly prioritizing someone else’s needs. Seeking support—whether through a therapist or a trusted support group—can be a vital way to manage the emotional challenges during this demanding time.
Through interviews with expert oncologists, social workers, patients advocates, and more, SurvivorNet has come up with a checklist of helpful steps cancer caregivers can take throughout the journey.

Actress Olivia Munn, a loving mom of two and survivor of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, recently had “the most special day” spending time with patients and fans at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, an internationally recognized hospital in California, which strives to provide family-centered care.

Munn described her heartfelt visit as “the most special day,” admitting she “can’t wait to come back,” in response to the hospital’s social media post recapping the day.

Children’s Hospital L.A., a national leader in pediatric research, captioned their heartfelt Instagram post, “The day was a little brighter at CHLA thanks to a sweet visit from @oliviamunn, who helped #MakeMarchMatter for a group of fans and families in our inpatient medical/surgical playroom.”

Munn was seen in photos wearing a surgical mask and posing next to the various children she shared her time with, and the artwork they created together.

“From Hello Kitty art to bead making to signing casts, the actress, health advocate and mom of 2 brought her crafting skills, fun conversation and a listening ear,” the hospital continued.

Munn was also seen signing a young girl’s cast with a bright pink marker, and even posing alongside a colorful statue of children’s toy blocks, featuring the letters C-H-L-A.

CHLA concluded by thanking Munn for “making it a meaningful and memorable afternoon for all!”

Fans were quick to applaud Munn for her generosity, with one fan commenting on the post, “Beautiful and generous. Thank you for giving your time at Children’s Hospital. Bless you. Very kind of you.”

Another commented, “The gift that keeps on giving.”

Others wrote, “True warriors” and “Thanks Olivia for giving back.”

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Children’s Hospital L.A. (@childrensla)

Olivia Munn’s Breast Cancer Journey

We are in awe with Olivia Munn’s willingness to give back after dealing with her own breast cancer journey—a diagnosis emerged despite receiving a “normal” mammogram and testing negative for the BRCA-gene mutation, which increases your risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

At the suggestion of her OBGYN, the actress underwent a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment, which helps determine a woman’s probability of getting breast cancer. Her results called for additional screening, which revealed she had an aggressive form of cancer in both of her breasts.

“I wouldn’t have found my cancer for another year – at my next scheduled mammogram – except that my OBGYN…decided to calculate my Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. The fact that she did save my life,” Munn said in an Instagram post, shared in March 2024.

The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment she credits for catching her breast cancer is a “statistical model that allows healthcare professionals to calculate the probability of a woman developing breast cancer over the course of their lifetime,” Dr. Ruth Oratz, breast medical oncologist, NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center; clinical professor of medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine tells SurvivorNet.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by o l i v i a (@oliviamunn)

Munn underwent genetic testing to better understand her cancer risk. Genetic tests can be as simple as a simple saliva swab or blood sample. The results help your care team determine if you have a specific mutation that puts you at higher risk for cancer. The results help doctors tailor your treatment and are helpful for breast cancer patients.

“I tested negative for all (different cancer genes), including BRCA,” Munn said.

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are among the most important genes to look for in breast cancer. Together, they are responsible for about half of all hereditary breast cancers. These genes prevent cells from dividing haphazardly and uncontrollably in a person without mutations. Mutations prevent these genes from doing their job and can allow unchecked growth of breast, ovarian, and other tissues.

Two months after undergoing genetic testing, Munn was diagnosed with Luminal B breast cancer in both of her breasts.

According to research in “Breast Cancer,” luminal B tumors are of a “higher grade” and tend to have a worse prognosis. This type of breast cancer is estrogen-positive (ER), meaning it is fueled by the hormone estrogen. It can also be progestogen (PR) negative, meaning it is not fueled by progestogen. This type of breast also tends to have a higher expression of the Ki67 protein, making it grow quickly. Hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are often used to treat this type of cancer. Luminal is one of several types and is distinguished by its molecular makeup.

Understanding Childhood Cancer

Treatment advances in recent decades have lead to 84 percent of children with cancer now surviving five years or more, according to the American Cancer Society. This is up from 58 percent from the mid-1970s.

But according to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, more than 95% of childhood cancer survivors have significant health-related issues because of the current treatment options, and only 4 percent of the billions of dollars spent each year on cancer research and treatments are directed towards treating childhood cancer in the United States. Since 1980, fewer than 10 drugs have been developed for use in children with cancer while hundreds of drugs have been created exclusively for adults.

Dr. Elizabeth Raetz, director of pediatric hematology and oncology at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, reminded us in a previous interview that there is still reason for hope.

“There are also targeted treatments and different immunotherapies that have been studied in adults and have now moved into clinical trials for children and there has been a great deal of excitement in the community about that,” Dr. Raetz previously told SurvivorNet.

Still, navigating a child’s cancer diagnosis can be tricky something Jayne Wexler knows all too well after watching her son battle acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In a earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Wexler explained that in addition to regular parent worries having a child with cancer means living with a whole new world of anxieties.

The Impact of a Childhood Cancer Diagnosis on the Whole Family — Jayne Wexler Shares Her Story

“My husband and I will always have fear,” she said. “I don’t think we can ever let go of that. Just when he was OK, then he relapsed, and then he had the bone marrow transplant, so there’s always some sort of worry.”

Wexler admits she tries to live for each and every day, but it’s understandable that this does not always come easy.

“And I do try you hear people say this we do have to live each day and be thankful for what we have,” Wexler said.

“And it’s hard to remember that when you’re caught up, it’s very hard to just sort of enjoy the moment, because we just don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.”

Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center says social workers can connect patients with resources and provide support during the treatment process.

Childhood Survivors Face Heart Risks

According to a 2019 study published in the journal Circulation, even at a young age, childhood cancer survivors are three times more likely to develop any type of heart disease than their peers.

The heightened risk of heart disease among childhood cancer survivors is a result, in part, of the “cardio-toxic” nature of many of the most effective cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation.

These treatments work by killing cancer cells directly, but in the process, they often damage or kill the healthy cells in the heart tissue, too. In children, whose cells are still dividing faster than they would be in adulthood, this damage can keep the heart from developing the way it should, and can ultimately cause long-term side effects.

Dr. Gregory Aune, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at UT Health, was only 16 years old when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Nearly two decades after receiving chemo and radiation for his childhood cancer, Dr. Aune underwent emergency open-heart surgery at 35 to replace his aortic valve and bypass three blocked coronary arteries.

The surgery saved Dr. Aune’s life, but left him frustrated about therapies that could cure his pediatric patients, but hurt them in the long run. “I thought, ‘we need to find a better way to do this,” Dr. Aune shared in a blog post. Since then, he has devoted his career to researching ways to protect children’s hearts during and after cancer treatment.

Coping With A Child’s Cancer Diagnosis

Advocating for your health and your child’s health is essential to getting the necessary care before a condition worsens. Some cancers can have subtle symptoms, so don’t delay seeing your doctor.

Family members caring for a child diagnosed with cancer can be stressful. Family support not only eases the anxiety of the cancer patient, but the added support also helps their loved ones.

Caregivers supporting individuals with cancer should be mindful of caregiver burnout, a condition that can arise when constant stress and exhaustion—along with feelings of frustration or declining health—result from consistently placing someone else’s needs above their own.

Those who begin to feel overwhelmed are encouraged to reach out for help, whether through a licensed therapist or a caregiver support group, available both online and in person.

As parents navigate the cancer journey with their young cancer warriors, it’s important to remember children’s bodies may react differently to treatments than adults because their bodies are still growing.

“They may receive more intense treatments…and they may respond differently to drugs that control symptoms in adults,” according to the National Cancer Institute so it’s important to ask plenty of questions to doctors throughout the cancer journey.

Remember, you’re not alone in this journey your child’s oncologist and care team are there to guide you and provide information and answers.

Oncological social workers are a fantastic resource to help you sort out the financial aspects of cancer treatment, as well as other cancer-related issues.

Skilled psychologists and counselors can be accessed to help you maintain good mental health through your child’s cancer journey, to the best of your ability.

And, don’t be afraid to reach out to your support system friends, relatives, etc. for help through this process. No one expects you to handle everything on your own.

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate: Don’t Settle

Meanwhile, if you’re wondering what you can do to ensure your child is getting the best treatment possible, consider the following recommendations from the National Cancer Institute.

“Build strong partnerships” Communicate openly and honestly with your child’s care team. You want to build a solid relationship with the people treating your child so you feel confident asking any questions and discussing your child’s treatment path.
“Take advantage of the many specialists who can help your child” There are many people who can help you and your child after the diagnosis arrives. Don’t hesitate to ask for specialists to help you and your child learn about their disease, understand how it will be treated and cope with difficult emotions.
“If you get information online, make sure the source is credible” Doing your own research is a great way to advocate for your child, but it’s important you’re looking at reliable sources such as (but not limited to) the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Society of Clinical Oncology, among others. Talk to doctors about what you’re finding and don’t hesitate to get multiple opinions regarding your child’s treatment path.
“Make sure you understand what your child’s health care team tells you” You need to ask for clarification if something about your child’s diagnosis or treatment is confusing.
“Keep your child’s pediatrician updated” Make sure your child’s cancer care team is sending updates to their regular pediatrician.