American actress Olivia Munn, 43, has revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She has undergone four surgeries in the past ten months, including a double mastectomy, but kept her diagnosis private until now.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Olivia wrote, 'In February of 2023, in an effort to be more proactive about my health, I took a genetic test that checks you for 90 cancer genes. I tested negative for all, including BRCA (the most well-known breast cancer gene).
'My sister Sara had just tested negative as well. We called each other and high-fived over the phone. The same winter I also had a negative mammogram. Two months later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.'
She continued, 'In the past ten months I have had four surgeries, so many days spend in bed I can't even count and have learned more about cancer, cancer treatment and hormones than I could ever 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 my emotions that I felt would interfere with my ability to stay clearheaded.
'I've tended to let people see me when I have energy, when I can get dressed and get out of the house, when I can take my baby boy to the park. I've kept the diagnoses and the worry and the recovery and the pain medicine and the paper gowns private.'
Olivia added that she 'needed to catch [her] breath' and 'get through some of the hardest parts' before sharing the news.
The X-Men: Apocalypse actress, who has a two-year-old son called Malcolm with her partner John Mulaney, revealed that her doctor said her 'lifetime risk' was at 37% after undergoing checks. Once her biopsy revealed she had an aggressive and fast-moving cancer, she had a double mastectomy 30 days later.
However, despite the devastating news, Olivia ended her post on a positive note and said she was lucky enough to catch her cancer in time to have options and seems to be responding well to treatment. This meant she was able to attend the Oscars last Sunday with her partner, stand-up comedian John Mulaney.
He commented on her Instagram post writing, 'Thank you for fighting so hard to be here for us. Malc and I adore you.'
Olivia concluded her post by encouraging her followers to ask their doctors to calculate their Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score as well as insisting women book annual breast MRIs.
She said, 'Thank you to the friends who've had breast cancer and the friends who connected me to friends who have had breast cancer for guiding me through some of my most uncertain and overwhelming months.
'I hope by sharing this it will help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey.'