Olivia Munn Details Terrifying Breast Cancer Journey

Olivia Munn is opening up about her terrifying breast cancer diagnosis at age 43.

The actress and author gave a candid interview detailing her diagnosis and treatment, which included a double mastectomy, four surgeries in 10 months and medically induced menopause.

Olivia Munn Opens Up About Her Cancer Diagnosis

Munn talked to People magazine about her journey. She said that she’d taken all the necessary precautions when it comes to breast cancer, including regular mammograms and BRCA testing to check her risk for the disease. Still, three months after her last mammogram, which came back clear, and testing negative for the BRCA gene, Munn was given the shocking bilateral breast cancer diagnosis.

“The actress was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer after tests revealed she had luminal B—a fast-moving, aggressive cancer—in both breasts. She was two weeks away from starting a new sci-fi film in Germany when she was diagnosed. ‘You realize cancer doesn’t care who you are; it doesn’t care if you have a baby or if you don’t have time,’ she says. ‘It comes at you, and you have no choice but to face it head-on,’” she told People.

Munn Announced Diagnosis Last Month

Munn first announced her diagnosis in a March Instagram post. Beside an album of photos of herself in hospital garb, Munn captioned, “I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I hope by sharing this it will help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey.”

She elaborated within the post with shots of text explaining more about her ordeal. She explained that the cancer had been found in April of 2023, saying, “In the past ten months, I have had four surgeries, so many days spent in bed I can’t even count and have learned more about cancer, cancer treatment and hormones than I ever could have imagined. Surprisingly, I’ve only cried twice. I guess I haven’t felt like there was time to cry. My focus narrowed and I tabled any emotions that I felt would interfere with my ability to stay clearheaded.”

“I’ve kept the diagnosis and the worry and the recovery and the pain medicine and the paper gowns private. I needed to catch my breath and get through some of the hardest parts before sharing.”

Olivia Munn Praises Her Partner For Support During Cancer Journey

“I’m so thankful to my friends and family for loving me through this. I’m so thankful to John for the nights he spent researching what every operation and medication meant and what side effects and recovery I could expect. For being there before I went into each surgery and being there when I woke up, always placing framed photos of our little boy Malcolm so it would be the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes,” she said, referencing her partner, comedian John Mulaney.

Mulaney also commented on her original diagnosis post, saying, “Thank you for fighting so hard to be here for us. Malc and I adore you.”

Munn Credits Doctors For Saving Her Life

Munn credits her doctors for catching the cancer in time for life-saving treatments. Her ob-gyn, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, helped her use a free tool called Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment calculator, to calculate her lifetime breast cancer risk.

“Anything above a 20 percent score is considered high-risk, signaling that additional screening beyond a standard mammogram is likely necessary,” according to People. “Munn’s score was an alarming 37.3 percent. Aliabadi ordered an MRI, which revealed a spot in Munn’s right breast, ‘just a hairline away from my lymph nodes,’ the actress recalls. A subsequent ultrasound detected two more tumors in her right breast, which biopsies confirmed to be stage 1 invasive cancer. Further review of Munn's original MRI led to a biopsy which confirmed cancer in the left breast as well.”

Cancer Would Have Been 'Like Climbing An Iceberg' Without Mulaney's Support

As Munn focuses on recovery, she continues to praise her partner, Mulaney. The two were first linked in 2021 and she gave birth to their son later that year.

“‘It would’ve felt like climbing an iceberg without him. I don’t think he had a moment to himself, between being an incredibly hands-on father and going to and from the hospital—taking Malcolm to the park, putting him to nap, driving to Cedars-Sinai, hanging out with me, going home, putting Malcolm to bed, coming back to me. And he did it all happily,’” she told People.