Olivia Munn Shares Her Mother Was Also Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

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Olivia Munn’s cancer diagnosis had a direct impact on her mom’s life. 

Approximately a year following the announcement of breast cancer diagnosis by the actress from the X-Men series (who has three-year-old Malcolm and ten-month-old Méi with husband John Mulaney), she disclosed that it was her mother, Kim Munn, who had discovered her own cancer diagnosis, prompted by her daughter’s urging.

In a post on Instagram dated July 9th, Olivia shared that her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She often mentions her own struggle with cancer and how the Lifetime Risk Assessment test played a crucial role in saving her life. Surprisingly, it turned out this same test may have also saved her mom’s life.

In her post, Munn clarified that her mother underwent a clear mammogram during her annual screening the year she was diagnosed, but scored a relatively high 26.2 on her risk assessment test. Despite being 45 years old, she urged her mother to get an ultrasound examination, and she was ultimately diagnosed with Stage 1 Her2 breast cancer.

From experiencing the support of my mom after my double mastectomy, I’ve had the chance to return that favor when she went through her own ordeal. From navigating the complex world of oncology alone initially, to now sharing this journey with my mom, I can attest – dealing with cancer is an immense challenge. Yet, there’s a unique pain in witnessing a loved one face this disease, a heartbreak that transcends personal struggles.

In the midst of her struggle, just as Olivia did, her circle stayed with her, and that included Sam, who was not only an alumnus of The Newsroom but also her mother’s spouse, standing by her throughout the ordeal.

Olivia shared her experience: she studied extensively on Her2, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and cold caps. She spent numerous nights caring for her mom when the chemo was overwhelming, secretly wishing she could bear the burden instead, just to ease hers a bit. It’s not easy accepting that we can’t fight battles for them. To all those who care for others, be it family or professionals, thank you. Your support makes these seemingly impossible struggles more manageable.

The mother of two enthusiastically praised her mother’s care team, especially “the guardian angel among guardian angels,” Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, whom she had earlier acknowledged for helping save her life during her battle with cancer.

In the end, Olivia’s message conveyed a brighter tone, sharing that her mom was in good health and offering peeks at her famously funny relationship with John, her comedian spouse.

She expressed her immense pride, stating, ‘I must say, I’m so proud of my mom.’ Despite going through a double mastectomy, she’s been incredibly brave, adding humor to our lives. Yet, there are moments when she tries to do laundry and cook dinner at the same time – truly a woman of many talents, though sometimes it drives us a little crazy!

Keep reading for more stars who have opened up about their cancer journeys…

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2025-07-09 19:47