Olivia Munn’s recent announcement about her battle with breast cancer and her decision to undergo a double mastectomy has left fans in shock.
In a recent Instagram post, the 43-year-old actress, who has made a name for herself with her roles on The Newsroom, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and the X-Men franchise, shared some personal health news. She expresses her desire to provide comfort, inspiration, and support to others through sharing the news.
In February 2023, Munn decided to take a genetic test to prioritize her health. Being proactive, she wanted to check for cancer genes. Fortunately, the results came back negative for all of them, including BRCA, which is widely known as a breast cancer gene.
She mentioned that she had a regular mammogram during that same winter. It might have seemed like everything was going smoothly, but then she received some surprising news just two months later.
In a recent blog post, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi of Munn’s OBGYN discussed the importance of calculating one’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. This score takes into account various factors such as age and family history of breast cancer. Upon examination, the doctor determined that her lifetime risk was significantly high, estimated at 37%.
«Due to that score, I was instructed to undergo an MRI, followed by an ultrasound, and ultimately a biopsy,» Munn explained. She shared in her writing that the biopsy revealed Luminal B cancer in both of her breasts, describing it as a highly aggressive and rapidly progressing form of cancer.
According to Munn, it’s highly probable that she wouldn’t have detected the cancer until her next scheduled mammogram, which would have been a year later. Therefore, the doctor’s test most likely played a crucial role in saving her life. She encouraged fellow women to request their doctors to calculate their individual risk scores.
«I consider myself blessed,» Munn expressed. «We managed to catch it early enough, giving me a range of choices. I hope that every woman who may encounter this situation in the future can have a similar experience.»
After thirty days of receiving the diagnosis, Munn underwent a double mastectomy. One moment, everything was fine, and the next, I found myself waking up in a hospital bed after a lengthy 10-hour surgery.
In her recent update, the actress shared the details of her challenging journey, which involved four surgeries over the course of ten months. She expressed how her recovery has been both physically demanding and emotionally exhausting. «I’ve spent countless days in bed, gaining an unexpected wealth of knowledge about cancer, cancer treatment, and hormones,» Munn expressed.
«To my surprise, I’ve only shed tears on two occasions. I guess I haven’t felt like there was time to cry. I found myself becoming more focused, setting aside any emotions that might cloud my judgment.»
Munn expressed her gratitude towards the medical professionals who provided her with treatment, as well as her friends who have experienced breast cancer and offered their support and advice. She also extended her thanks to her partner, comedian John Mulaney, for his unwavering support throughout her operations. Munn appreciated Mulaney’s efforts in researching the details of her procedures and medications, as well as his thoughtful gesture of placing a photo of their son Malcolm next to her, ensuring it was the first thing she saw upon waking up.
«Thank you for your unwavering dedication and perseverance in being present for us. Malc and I absolutely love you,» Mulaney replied in the comments.
Following a challenging year of health struggles, Munn made a triumphant return and graced the Academy Awards on Sunday, accompanied by John Mulaney.
Dealing with breast cancer is an incredibly difficult experience, but we are relieved that Olivia Munn’s doctors were able to catch it early and take the necessary steps to save her life.
Big thanks to Olivia Munn for bravely sharing her personal journey and inspiring other women who may be facing the same risk of breast cancer to take charge of their health.
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