Olivia Munn's Breast Cancer Journey
- Actress Olivia Munn, who 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, is crediting the late “Beverly Hills, 90210” Shannen Doherty for supporting her throughout the “early stages” of her diagnosis.
- Doherty passed away from metastatic breast cancer on June 13, 2024.
- Munn, who preserved her fertility and underwent an egg retrieval, now takes medication to help prevent cancer recurrence. She credits The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment to saving her life. It assesses a woman’s age, family history with breast cancer when she first had a menstrual period, and her reproductive history to determine her risk of breast cancer.
- Metastatic breast cancer, also called “stage four” breast cancer, occurs when the cancer has spread, or metastasized, beyond the breasts to other parts of the body. It most commonly spreads to the bones, liver and lungs, but it may also spread to the brain or other organs.
- While treatment for metastatic breast cancer is not curative, it can improve your quality of life. You and your doctor will work together to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Munn, who shares two kids with her comedian husband John Mulaney, shared the sweet news during the the Hollywood Creative Alliance’s Astra TV Awards while giving a speech as she accepted the Trailblazer Award, an honor given to her for her using her platform to advocate for change.
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She continued, “I’d also like to thank two people in our community that helped me many times personally and professionally, and who we sadly lost to cancer.”
Munn said her agent Tony Etz, whom she dubbed “incredibly kind and easygoing while at the same time being a beast for his clients,” and “the wonderful Shannen Doherty,” who passed away last year from metastatic breast cancer.
Etz, however, passed away this year at age 64, following a long battle with a rare type of bone tumor called a Chordoma.
The “X-Men: Apocalypse” star recalled how Doherty helped her through the “early stages” and steps of her diagnosis, adding, “Shannen was a close friend and in this room, I know we all believe Shannen, otherwise known as Brenda Walsh, is and always will be an icon.”
She concluded, “I just want to say thank you to all the people that have made my work so rewarding and my voice heard.”
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As for what led Munn to receive the honor, the actress admitted she’s grateful her cancer journey has put her in the position to spread awareness and potentially save lives.
She said at the start of her speech, “Two years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had gotten past the biggest parts of the battle, I had a moment to think about what my journey could mean to other women, and I knew then that I wanted to share my story.
“I’m so grateful that I had established enough voice to urge women to get the breast cancer lifetime risk assessment test and hopefully save a life as my doctor had saved mine.”
Munn, who is newly starring in the Apple TV+ series “Your Friends and Neighbors” as Samantha Levitt, also said, “I have been lucky enough to work with people like [Aaron] Sorkin, Jon Stewart, Liz Merriwether, Steven Soderbergh, and now Jonathan Tropper, Jon Hamm, and all of my incredible friends and co-stars on Your Friends & Neighbors.”
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.
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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?
Shannen Doherty’s Passing
The loss of actress Shannen Doherty was certainly profound, for her fans and close friends, like Munn, the cancer community, and especially for her mother, Rosa Doherty.
Doherty passed away on July 13, 2024 at the age of 53 after a courageous fight with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
The late Beverly Hills, 90210 star’s doctor and close pal, Dr. Lawrence Piro, offered an update on how “Mama Rose” (as she is lovingly known) was coping in the grieving process, and shared how her daughter’s dedicated fan base has been bringing her a “great sense of peacefulness.”
“She’s grieving, you know, it’s a long process,” Dr. Piro said on an episode of Shannen’s “Let’s Be Clear” podcast, which her family and friends decided to continue in her honor to further her mission. The world renowned oncologist added that Rosa was coping “very well, very naturally and normally.”
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.
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.
Screening For Breast Cancer
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.
Support Matters
Having a strong community around you, Munn did throughout her cancer fight, is ideal when challenged by health struggles.
Dealing with cancer or any sort of health battle for that matter can be overwhelming, so having physical and emotional support is crucial. That being said, it’s very important to know your limits on what you can handle as you undergo treatment and recover from your cancer, and that includes relationships.
“Going through [cancer] treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin wrote in a column for SurvivorNet. “Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much, [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
Dr. Strongin does note, however, that having people by your side during this “arduous chapter” of your life can be hugely beneficial.
“Studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery,” she wrote. “Therefore, it will be important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment.”
In a previous chat with SurvivorNet, psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik added that some cancer warriors may need to look beyond their existing relationships to find the support they need.
“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” Dr. Plutchik said. “But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional.”
Seeking Support: Dr. Plutchik Shares The First 3 Things To Do After a Cancer Diagnosis
Dr. Plutchik said it’s best to find a mental health professional with experience aiding people undergoing cancer treatment.
“Make sure that the mental health professional that you work it is reaching out, with your consent, to the rest of your team, to the oncologist, to the surgeon,” she said. “It can also be helpful to reach out to family, friends, and any other caretakers that may be involved in the person’s treatment.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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