Olivia Munn’s “no symptoms” breast cancer diagnosis inspired a lifesaving awareness campaign
Olivia Munn’s “no symptoms” breast cancer diagnosis inspired a lifesaving awareness campaign
Olivia Munn is known for her strong presence on screen, but in recent years she has taken on a more personal role as a cancer survivor, advocate, and mother.
Olivia Munn was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in April 2023 after taking the Lifetime Probability Assessment exam, a free online Q&A that takes minutes to offer a score indicating your probability of having breast cancer in your lifetime.
Anything more than 20% is considered high risk. Munn’s risk score was 37.3%.
“No symptoms. And I had a clear mammogram and a clear ultrasound,” Munn explained on “CBS Sunday Morning.”
When she learned about the diagnosis, she fought back with everything she had. She underwent a double mastectomy, ovariectomy, and partial hysterectomy. Her current score is zero.
Instead of healing quietly, she raised the alarm, writing about her disease and informing anybody who would listen about the risk assessment exam. Since Munn began sharing her story, the number of women taking the test has grown by 4,000 percent.
There’s no way I could have predicted it,” she explained.
The couple married in 2024 and has remained by her side throughout her breast cancer treatment. She says, “There’s no better person in the world to me than my husband.” He is—I mean, you’ve met him. He wanted to attend every single doctor’s visit.
He held a small notebook. Do you know? And he has a notepad in which he puts all of his joke ideas and anything else that comes to mind throughout the day,” Munn explained.
Munn stated that Mulaney took notes on cancer and hormone therapy, which helped to lighten the mood.
Their son Malcolm is four, and their daughter Mei Mei will turn two in the fall. Being a parent makes her realize how quickly life can change.
“I believe it is not the Christmases, birthdays, or New Year’s that we remember. Like, life happens on Tuesdays. Like, it just occurs. And you can’t expect it. “And so every day, you should just be so present and grateful,” Munn said, advising parents to appreciate all the “tiny, little moments” with their children.
She went on: “And once you are faced with the possibility of death and not being here, it’s– for me, all I wanted were the little moments.”
Munn’s determination to tell her story has allowed countless other women to enjoy a few more small moments.
Despite the hurdles, Munn considers herself extremely fortunate. She sees her cancer experience as a reminder of how fortunate she is to still be alive, despite the stress and exhaustion. It’s a tremendous privilege to simply be living in the world,” Munn stated.
Munn is now filming her role as a nasty divorcee in the Apple TV+ sitcom “Your Friends and Neighbors,” which will return for a second season on Friday, April 3, 2026.
