Understanding Olivia Munn's Breast Cancer Journey
- Actress Olivia Munn is celebrating the Emmy nomination of “Your Friends & Neighbors” after her breast cancer journey, sharing the exciting milestone with fans ahead of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
- The TV and film star’s type of breast cancer, called hormone receptor-positive (HR+), means that the hormones estrogen or progesterone stimulate cancer cell growth, which is why HR+ cancer is typically treated with hormone therapy drugs that lower estrogen levels or block estrogen. Munn’s sub-type, luminal B, meant that her cancer was specifically estrogen-fueled.
- She’s had both her breasts removed, a hysterectomy, removing her uterus, as well as surgeries to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries. After preserving her fertility and undergoing an egg retrieval, she has since started taking hormone-suppression treatment to prevent cancer recurrence.
- Hormone therapy is used for hormone receptor-positive cancers. These types of cancers are the most common types of breast cancer. Hormone receptor-positive means the cancer or tumor needs the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone to grow and flourish. Hormone therapy works by driving the estrogen levels down or blocking the estrogen’s ability to interact with the estrogen receptor on the cancer cell.
Munn, who plays Samantha Levitt, a character featured in some very passionate scenes, showing her topless, with Andrew “Coop” Cooper, played by Jon Hamm, 55, in the dark comedy comedy-drama series, took to social media to commemorate the news.
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Apple TV’s official Instagram account also honored the electrifying news, writing alongside a video compilation highlighting the series’ success that ends with Hamm’s character delivering a memorable dance moment.
“Congratulations to the entire Your Friends & Neighbors team on their Emmy nomination,” was the caption alongside the footage.
“Your Friends & Neighbors,” is produced by Apple Studios and Tropper Ink. Jonathan Tropper, Craig Gillespie, Stephanie Laing, Lori Keith Douglas, Jamie Rosengard, Jon Hamm, and Connie Tavel helped bring the series to life as executive producers, while Chris Arruda is credited as a producer on the series.
Aside from Munn and Hamm, the series also stars Amanda Peet, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Isabel Gravitt, Donovan Colan, Aimee Carrero, Eunice Bae, Lena Hall, and James Marsden.
Apple TV describes the show as being about “a financial titan who turns to theft after losing his job and marriage, soon getting tangled in a deadly web.”
Season 1 of the series follows Andrew Cooper (Hamm) as he turns to burglary after losing his job and marriage, uncovering secrets among his wealthy neighbors. Season 2 sees his criminal life become more dangerous when a new neighbor (played by Marsden) risks revealing the truth behind his double life and endangering those closest to him.
Other drama series nominated for the award included, “The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, Paradise, The Pitt, Pluribus, and Slow Horses.”
After Breast Cancer, Munn Rediscovered Confidence in Intimate Scenes
Munn previously admitted that when she had to go topless for one of the scenes in “Your Friends & Neighbors,” she didn’t feel shy, and it’s all thanks to her breast cancer journey.
The “X-Men: Apocalypse” star—who beat breast cancer after having both breasts removed, as well as surgeries to remove her fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries—told NBC News last year, that her cancer fight has made her more confident in her skin
She said, “As insecure as I was going into this about my body post-cancer and post-double mastectomy, I have been more insecure before going through all of this.
“I have a deeper appreciation for my body, because my body is the thing that got me through this. I fought through this with everything that I have, so I was a lot less insecure.”
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Aside from Munn’s renewed confidence, she said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, that her scars made her feel hesitant about acting in the sexy scenes.
“I was really nervous about doing any sex scenes because I have a lot of scars,” she said. “Scars that can be seen in clothing and scars that you wouldn’t know unless I was completely nude.”
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Referring to how she didn’t want any special treatment for having battled cancer, Munn further told the LA Times, “That’s how I handle life. I don’t like when it’s sugarcoated. I don’t like to be placated.
Going through a year of battling cancer and five surgeries, the goal is not to be known as a sick person. The goal is to get to the other side and be back to normal.”
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Munn also spoke with Gold Derby, informing the news outlet that her character Sam didn’t exude any insecurities that the actress has faced in real life.
“I wanted the character to be exposed and free as she is. She’s so sexual, and there’s so much sex with her and Coop. So, I was trying to figure out a middle point, mentally. Fortunately, Tropper was really great, and Jon Hamm was fantastic to work with in those scenes,” she said.
Munn added, “She [Sam] wants something so much more from him [Coop] than he’s willing to give, and their only connection is through sex.
“I really wanted that to be portrayed. I wanted the sex scenes to feel like sex scenes … I wanted them to feel visceral and intense and not hold back at all.”
Further commenting on her scars, she said, “It doesn’t look like the way it used to [her body], and I was really insecure about that … not just like how it might look on camera, but just even being there in person and filming it.
“I was really nervous about it, but at the same time, I really wanted it to be believable.”
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Olivia Munn’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.
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.
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.
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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.
As for the hormonal therapy drug she’s now taking, according to BreastCancer.org, Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole), it’s “an aromatase inhibitor used to treat all stages of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in post-menopausal women.”
In an earlier Instagram post, Munn revealed the following timeline of her breast cancer journey:
- January 2022 — 2 Mammograms, 2 Ultrasounds: Clear
- January 2023 — Mammogram: Clear
- February 2023 — Genetic Testing: 0% Chance of Genetic Cancer
- March 2023 — Tyrer-Cuzik Breast Cancer Assessment Score: 37.3%
- March/April 2023 — MRI+ Ultrasound + Biopsies
- April 2023 — Bilateral Breast Cancer Diagnosis
- May 2023 — Nipple delay, Lymph Node Dissection and Double Mastectomy
- June 2023 — Egg Retrieval
- September 2023 — Breast Reconstruction
- November 2023 — Begin Lupron
- April 2024 — Partial Hysterectomy/ Oophorectomy
- August 2024 — Begin Arimidex
Munn has since been on a five-year hormone suppression plan to prevent cancer recurrence and taking the drug Anastrozole (brand name: Arimidex) since August 2024.
According to the National Cancer Institute, about “13% of women” in the general population will develop breast cancer sometime during their lives. By contrast, 55% to 72% of women who inherit a harmful BRCA1 or BRACA2 variant will develop breast cancer by 70 to 80 years of age.
Between 5% and 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary. And about 10% of patients who undergo genetic testing will test positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, Dr. Julie Rani Nangia, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet.
“The genetic BRCA1 and (BRCA)2 mutations, if a woman has one of these mutations … it puts her at basically the highest quantifiable risk for getting breast cancer,” Dr. Elisa Port, a surgical oncologist at Mount Sinai, also told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
“We typically say between the 60 (percent) and 80 percent range. Having a BRCA1 and (BRCA)2 mutation also means that that person is at higher risk of getting breast cancer at an earlier age, and also maybe at risk for other cancers like ovarian cancer, like pancreatic cancer for men, prostate cancer and male breast cancer may be a concern.”
Since the discovery of the BRCA mutations in the 1990s, doctors have gone on to identify many other gene mutations that put people at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
“There’s actually eight to 10 genes that also can put someone at a higher risk for breast cancer,” Dr. Port says, adding that usually that risk isn’t as high as the BRCA mutations. These additional gene mutations include PALB2, ATM, TP53, CHEK2, PTEN, CDH1 and STK11.
Should I Get Genetic Testing to Assess My Risk for Breast Cancer?
“We call them more moderate penetrance genes and those genes, the risk of breast cancer associated with them can be anywhere from say 20 percent to 50 percent. So still very high, but lower than the BRCA genes that were the ones we originally described.”
The PALB2 gene is a “moderate penetrance gene, and the risk of getting breast cancer with PALB2 can be a pretty broad range,” Dr. Port says. “And unlike the BRCA genes where we don’t really use the family history of who got breast cancer to affect the risk estimates, with PALB2, you really can dial up risk or dial down risk depending on how many relatives and the age of the relatives in the family got breast cancer.”
Limitations of Genetic Testing
Like anything in life, there are limitations to genetic testing for breast cancer, specifically the commercially available tests women can take. One of the most common types of commercially available tests is from 23andMe, a genomics and biotechnology company, as well as tellmeGen and MyHeritage genetic tests.
“There’s only a cadre of them that are approved and accurate and there can be both false positives and false negatives, so it really depends,” Dr. Port says. “If someone is suspicious of having one of these genes (mutations) and gets tested through one of what we call the direct to consumer type tests, it is important that those testing results may need to be verified before doing something irreversible based on those results.”
If you take one of these tests without your doctor’s knowledge, and you receive some concerning results, make sure you discuss those results with your doctor before taking your next steps.
The other limitation to genetic testing is genetic counseling. Dr. Port says this is the most critical part of genetic testing. What does genetic counseling mean? Well, if you get a positive result back, how are you going to cope with that news?
“If someone gets a genetic test result back, it’s really important for them to know what is this? (What does this) mean for them? Put it into context.”
“What does it mean for their family members? For their relatives? Genetic counseling to follow up genetic testing is a really, really important part of the whole process and is not always available in the direct to consumer type avenue.”
Based on your personal and family health history, your doctor can refer you for genetic counseling, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Coping With Post-Surgery Scars, Body Image Amid Cancer
When you are in the middle of a health challenge, you may notice some physical changes in your body. The changes may include weight gain or loss, hair loss, or something invisible to the naked eye.
One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also frequently temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence. Your support group, filled with loved ones, can also help you during this stage of your journey.
While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are treatments that can cause visible changes to one’s physical appearance, other treatments that are less noticeable include endocrine or hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy “slows or stops the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors by blocking the body’s ability to produce hormones,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.
Dr. Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body impacted mainly by cancer treatment. She says that although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”
“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like you to first spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.
Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Strongin adds.
All About Breast Cancer Screenings
The medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
WATCH: Screening for Breast Cancer
For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
Women who have a strong family history of breast cancer, have dense breasts, have a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before age 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Breast density is determined through mammograms. However, women with dense breasts are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer because dense breast tissue can mask potential cancer during screening. 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and molecular breast imaging are options for women with dense breasts for a more precise screening. It is important to ask your doctor about your breast density and cancer risk.
Although breast cancer can happen to anyone, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of getting the disease. The known risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Older age
- Having a gene mutation such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Added exposure to estrogen
- Having children after the age of 30
- Exposure to radiation early in life
- Family history of the disease
About ten percent of breast cancers are hereditary, says Dr. Ophira Ginsburg, Director of the High-Risk Cancer Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
“We encourage only those who have a family history to really get [genetic testing],” Dr. Ginsburg previously told SurvivorNet.
“I would say that if you have anyone in your family who was diagnosed with a very rare cancer. Or if you have a strong family history of one or two kinds of cancer, particularly breast and ovarian, but also colon, rectal, uterine, and ovarian cancer, that goes together in another cancer syndrome called the Lynch Syndrome,” Dr. Ginsburg adds.
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.
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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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