Olivia Munn's Breast Cancer Journey
- Olivia Munn took to social media to share a power video of the moments before she underwent breast cancer surgery, highlighting the emotional support of her doctor and encouraging women to seek compassionate care.
- Munn beat hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer after having both her breasts removed, a hysterectomy, removing her uterus, as well as surgeries to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries.
- A mastectomy is the removal of all or part of the breast. Undergoing a mastectomy is often a deeply emotional experience, with mental and emotional adjustments that can be just as challenging as the physical recovery. The cancer removal portion of a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) typically takes about two hours, but total surgery time varies depending on the type of reconstruction a patient chooses.
- SurvivorNet’s “My Health Questions” AI tool helps patients and caregivers better understand breast cancer screening and treatment options by providing clinically grounded answers and personalized questions for upcoming doctor visits.
The 43-year-old mom of two, also known for her acting roles in “X-Men: Apocalypse” and HBO’s “The Newsroom,” underwent a double mastectomy in May 2023, just 30 days after receiving a diagnosis of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer.
Read MoreYou can hear her doctor, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Beverly Hills, California, telling her, “Do it for him, do it for the baby. This stuff doesn’t matter,” while pointing to her breasts. “I swear to God.”
She finished by encouraging Munn to stay strong before embracing her with a hug.
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“She cares for the wellbeing of her patients even when it’s after hours. She is an angel walking among us,” Munn continued her caption.
“I don’t wish cancer on anyone, however, if you do find yourself in my same situation I hope you find a doctor like her. ”
Hoping to inspire other women to build a strong medical team and support system, she concluded, “One of my biggest pieces of advice when you are about to begin the biggest battle of your life is to find a team of doctors who listen to your needs, your fears and treat you like a person not just a patient.”
Munn’s post resonated deeply with other women who have gone through similar experiences, myself included. It prompted many of her followers to chime in with their experiences.
On fan commented, “My oncologist is so amazing. She’s been with me through cancer twice and I feel unbelievably lucky that she is my Doctor. She has been with me through thick and thin and I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world they have a doctor like this. I’m so glad that you do also.”
Another wrote, “A beautiful, important message. As a nurse I see physicians of every stripe, and the ones who care about their patients stand out.”
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“So beautiful wish we had more doctors who cared about the person in front of them, who see them as someone’s daughter, mom, wife and friend,” commented a third.
Another admitted to feeling like she was “spiraling” before going into surgery, recounting, “My surgeon walked in and out and told me it was going to be ok. When the anesthesiologist came in is when it really set in that it was happening. One of my nurses told them to stop because I was crying. She grabbed my hand and prayed over me. I will never forget her. Ever.”
Offering gratitude toward Munn for sharing such an intimate moment, a supportive fan wrote, “You are very brave for being so public. It is so important. Women’s health issues are so ignored in our society.”
The surgery Munn underwent after the emotional video was taken, is a double mastectomy, which Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System explains “typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removal of the tissue.”
“The real length, the total length of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction [a patient] has,” Dr. Port adds.
WATCH: What Goes Into a Double Mastectomy
Today, most women choose to undergo some form of reconstruction, which can significantly extend the duration of surgery—especially when tissue is transferred from another part of the body.
“When you take tissue from another part of the body and transfer it to fill in the empty space where the breasts are, this is a very long operation,” Dr. Port says.
“It can take anywhere from six to 12 hours because it’s really like having a tummy tuck and then transferring the tissue and grafting the tissue, connecting the vessels, so those tissues have blood flow to live in,” Dr. Port adds.
Olivia’s Breast Cancer Journey
Olivia Munn’s breast cancer 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.
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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.
Handling Fear When You Get the Diagnosis
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
If you have a breast cancer screening coming up or have recently had one, you may have questions you want answered. SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions” is designed specifically for patients and caregivers.
WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care
This powerful resource is embedded across the SurvivorNet website and delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.
My Health Questions can also help patients come up with useful questions ahead of their next appointment.
‘Your Emotional Well-Being’ Can Impact Overall Survival
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health, says that maintaining good emotional health and quality of life is associated with better survival and better outcomes for patients. She encourages cancer patients to prioritize their emotional health for this reason.
“So definitely working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment, your emotional well-being, definitely working on those things and making them better are important and can impact your survival,” Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet.
WATCH: How emotional health plays a role in the cancer journey.
Dr. Chase suggests tapping into your support network, which includes loved ones like friends and family if you need help discovering what brings you positive emotions. You can also seek help from a patient advocate or a support group either in-person or virtually that shares your cancer or disease.
These important people in your life can help you navigate your emotions and even join you for fun activities to boost your emotional health, which in turn, can help how you address any lasting physical ailments.
What You Need to Know About Survivorship
Whether you are just starting your path as a survivor or have been navigating it for some time, you’ll eventually discover that “survivorship” carries multiple dimensions. At its core, it refers to living beyond a significant challenge or diagnosis, such as cancer. More precisely, it encompasses the phase after treatment when an individual moves beyond simply surviving to actively embracing and thriving in their renewed life.
It’s important to remember that survivorship, like in Munn’s cases, isn’t just an end state – it’s a continuous journey. It begins the moment a person is diagnosed with a significant health condition and continues throughout their life. You might hear people say things like, “from the moment of diagnosis, you become a survivor.”
It’s a powerful sentiment that reflects the courage and resilience involved in battling a serious illness.
Being a survivor also means redefining your life while coping with the aftermath of disease and its treatment. This phase might include the challenge of dealing with physical and emotional changes, attending regular check-ups, the fear of recurrence, or the need for long-term medication. Despite these hurdles, many survivors find unique strength, growth, and transformation during this time.
Survivorship is much more than just the absence of disease—it’s a new stage of life, a rite of passage. Your journey might not have been one you would have chosen, but through it, you’ll uncover a greater understanding of yourself and what you’re capable of. Each person’s survivorship journey is unique, and how you choose to travel is entirely up to you.
Remember—navigating this new terrain called “Survivorship.” It might be challenging, but remember, you’re not alone. There are ample resources and support systems designed to help you along the way.
Continued Medical Care
Don’t lose sight of the importance of continued medical care – always keep your follow-up appointments and adhere to any healthcare recommendations.
Remember, embracing these coping strategies can help you navigate your way into survivorship with greater ease and renewed energy. Just remember – slow and steady wins the race! You’ve overcome huge hurdles, it’s okay to take this new stage of your life at your own pace.
Resilient learning to overcome any obstacle
Additionally, health checkups are an integral part of maintaining wellness and spotting potential health issues early. This holds true for everyone, but even more so for a person who’s in the throes of survivorship.
One of the main reasons you’ll want to maintain routine health checks is to monitor for recurrence. While the hope is always for complete recovery, there’s a possibility of the disease returning—even with successful treatment. Regular checkups allow you to keep a vigilant eye on the situation, leading to early detection and treatment if any problem emerges.
Managing Other Health Conditions & Healthy Lifestyle Changes, Matters Too!
A survivorship journey can occasionally lead to new health conditions, including heart problems, diabetes, or osteoporosis. Routine screenings and monitoring help keep these conditions under control, ensuring they don’t escalate into major health risks.
Regular checkups also serve as an opportunity for your health care provider to give advice on healthy lifestyle changes. This includes exercise, a balanced diet, stress management, and quitting habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption—factors that can significantly lower the risk of recurrence or other health issues.
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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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