“I was not someone who was obsessed over death”: Olivia Munn Details Her “Horrifying” Battle With Cancer After Having a Baby
The actress known for her role as Sloan Sabbith in the HBO series The Newsroom, Olivia Munn, battled an aggressive form of breast cancer just a year after giving birth to her son.
She underwent a double mastectomy and experienced medically induced menopause during her treatment. Munn is now cancer-free and dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of early detection.
Olivia Munn Opens Up About Her Cancer Struggle After Giving Birth to Baby
Olivia Munn was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer, a fast-moving and aggressive form of the disease affecting both breasts. The diagnosis was unexpected, as her mammogram just three months earlier had shown no signs of cancer. Additionally, she had tested negative for the BRCA cancer gene not long before.
The Oklahoma City native, like many women, believed she was in the clear after a clean mammogram. However, her doctor advised her to evaluate her lifetime risk of breast cancer, which turned out to be high. An MRI later found cancerous tumors that hadn’t been detected before.
At that moment, the Hollywood star’s thoughts were immediately drawn to her son, Malcolm, who was just one year old at the time (now he’s two), and his father, John Mulaney. She told PEOPLE:
“I was not someone who obsessed over death or was afraid of it in any way. But “having a little baby at home made everything much more terrifying. 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.”
Munn thinks that her doctor’s decision to figure out her lifelong cancer risk was what really saved her life.
Olivia Munn is Grateful for Her Partner’s Support During Cancer Battle
Through the tough times of her diagnosis, Olivia Munn found solid support from her partner, John Mulaney. His steady presence gave her the strength and comfort she needed to face each day’s challenges.
The 43-year-old talked about about how supportive and caring her partner has been while she’s been dealing with health issues. The actress said that “it would’ve felt like climbing an iceberg without him.” She continued in the same outlet:
“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.”
Munn feels “grateful” that she “was given the opportunity to fight.” Lastly, she mentioned that her son, Malcolm, brings her a lot of happiness. When she’s with him, she forgets about her sickness and just enjoys being a mom.
