Actress Olivia Munn, 44, Comfortable Enough to Film “Steamy” Scenes After Breast Removal Surgery; A ‘Deeper Appreciation For My Body’ After Cancer Treatment

“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.”

Not only is she more accepting of her body and imperfections, she is also more strict with how plans her schedule as she’s making an effort to prioritize her family over work.

Munn added, “I have to manage my time, and I have to think about how much do I want to be away from my children or how much stress this is going to cause me.

“With my particular health situation, my cancer feeds on hormones, so if there’s any cancer that has found its way to stay in my body, then stress hormones can also feed on that.”

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The mom of two continued, “I often ask myself if this situation, this job, this friendship or this dynamic causes me stress and, God forbid, was to feed a cancer in my body and it came back later on in my life, would it have been worth it? And the answer is always no.”

Speaking to ExtraTV about the “steamy” scenes she’s taken part in for the new series, Munn may be more body positive than ever, but she revealed her husband prefers not to talk about the sexy scenes she acts.

Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn reveal how their husbands feel about the steamy scenes with Jon Hamm in “Your Friends and Neighbors”! 🔥😅 Full interview 🔗: https://t.co/vGUz49LVu4 pic.twitter.com/VLHhdX7c2E

— ExtraTV (@extratv) April 2, 2025

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.

RELATED: ‘Inside Edition’ Correspondent Credits Actress Olivia Munn For Helping Save Her Life– The Breast Cancer Screening Message

“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.

What Are the Options if You Have a High Risk of Developing Breast Cancer?

Self-Acceptance After Breast Cancer

Self-acceptance is an essential part of living with cancer, regardless of the severity of the disease, but many women say it is possible to retrain your brain and how we look at our bodies as a whole.

“Femininity is a state of mind,” celebrity stylist Ann Caruso told SurvivorNet in a prior interview. “Society has us thinking that our breasts are what makes us sexy. You know, there are so many other things. There’s touch, there’s our eyes a glance, the way we speak. It’s the curve of our body, it’s the way that we think. There are so many special things about being a woman.”

Body image, sex and adjusting to a ‘new normal’ after cancer 

After a year of intense treatment, Dana Donofree, the founder of AnaOno, could not find a bra that fit her altered body and decided to design her own. Her company, AnaOno, creates bras for breast cancer survivors.

“If you want reconstructed breasts because it makes you feel whole, do it. If you want to remove them because it makes you feel empowered, do it,” said Donofree, telling SurvivorNet, “You live in this skin, you express yourself the way you want to.”

Coping With Your New Body After Cancer Treatment

Cancer survivors often struggle with the changes others can see, whether temporary of permanent, like scarring, hair loss and weight gain. However, survivors also struggle with changes that may not be as obvious — such as infertility — and these can create body image issues and make survivors feel vulnerable.

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 help you during this stage of your journey as well.

In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shared some tips cancer survivors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.

Dr. Strongin encourages survivors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body impacted mainly by cancer treatment. She says although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”

Regaining your sense of self after reconstruction

“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 first to 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,” Dr. Strongin added.

Protecting Your Inner Beauty and Self-Esteem

Dr. Strongin also previously explained to SurvivorNet, “Cancer changes who you are both physically and emotionally.” It’s important to understand that struggles with self-esteem can happen can take hold of anyone.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology questioned how self-esteem should be considered in cancer patients. Researchers noted cancer patients’ framing of their diagnosis and how they cope with their diagnosis and subsequent treatment impacts their self-esteem throughout their cancer journeys.

“Adaptive adjustment strategies (positive reframing, use of emotional support, active coping, acceptance, and planning) in breast cancer patients were associated with high self-esteem. Social support also appears to be strongly related to self-esteem,” the study says.

If you find yourself wrestling with your emotions because of a diagnosis, remember you don’t have to go it alone. Your support group is filled with loved ones who are there to help you on your journey.

“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive stress wave the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says.

Oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Comen On How Body Image, Sexuality, & More May Change After Cancer Treatment

What to Know About Screening For Breast Cancer

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.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

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