Olivia Munn has been keeping a secret for almost a year. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is sharing her story now, hoping it can help someone else.
In February 2023, the 43-year-old actress went to the doctor’s office and got tested for 90 different cancer genes, and they all came back negative. She even went in for a mammogram, which did not show anything,
But two months later, a doctor told her she had an aggressive form of breast cancer.
“I wouldn’t have found my cancer for another year at my next scheduled mammogram – except that my OBGYN, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, decided to calculate my Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. The fact that she did saved my life,” she wrote. “Dr. Aliabadi looked at factors like my age, familial breast cancer history, and the fact that I had my first child after the age of 30. She discovered my lifetime risk was at 37%. Because of that score I was sent to get an MRI, which led to an ultrasound, which then led to a biopsy. The biopsy showed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. Luminal B is an aggressive, fast-moving cancer.”
Because of that, she opted to get a double mastectomy. Since that day, she had three more surgeries. And she is getting stronger every day.
And she is grateful to be alive. “I’m lucky. We caught it with enough time that I had options,” the actress said. “I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day. Ask your doctor to calculate your Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. Dr. Aliabadi says that If the number is greater than 20%, you need annual mammograms and breast MRIs starting at age 30.”
Talk to your doctors because that conversation could save your life like it saved hers.
