Actress Olivia Munn, 43, Looking Glamorous at Fashion Show Months After Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer – Coping With Body Changes Amid Treatment
Actress Olivia Munn, 43, Looking Glamorous at Fashion Show Months After Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer – Coping With Body Changes Amid Treatment
“X-Men” actress Olivia Munn was diagnosed with breast cancer despite receiving a ‘normal’ mammogram and testing negative for the BRCA gene mutation, which elevates your risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Her treatment included a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) and breast reconstruction. Fans remain in awe of her ability to bounce back quickly with no signs of surgery so quickly.
Munn underwent a breast cancer risk assessment, which helped discover her cancer.
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment is a statistical model that allows healthcare professionals to calculate the probability of a woman developing breast cancer throughout their lifetime.
The assessment assesses a woman’s age, family history with breast cancer when she first had a menstrual period, and reproductive history to determine her risk of breast cancer.
A major health challenge that causes noticeable changes to your appearance can impact how you feel, physically and emotionally. Psychiatrist Dr. Marianna Strongin encourages cancer warriors to look at and appreciate the parts of their bodies that were affected by treatment to take back ownership.
“X-Men” Actress Olivia Munn, 43, is just months removed from undergoing treatment for breast cancer, which included a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) and breast reconstruction. However, she emerged at a fashion show looking stunning in a lavish black dress.
One may wonder, how does she look so good despite undergoing breast cancer surgery a short while ago? Her latest Instagram post offers some insight, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. It’s an inner strength many cancer warriors discover while battling cancer.
Munn is an award-winning actress known for hits like “Perfect Couples,” “The Newsroom,” “X-Men: Apocalypse,” and numerous voice acting roles. However, the last year has been a rollercoaster for the mother of one.
“Makeup, Hair, Style,” Munn noted in a recent post of her fashionable black dress trimmed with shiny silver.
Supportive fans remain in awe at Munn, a mother of one’s resilience.
“You look stunning. I recently battled breast cancer, and you are such an inspiration,” Instagram user Kim Contreras commented.
Instagram user Joanna piled onto Munn’s adoration.
“My mastectomy scars are very vivid, not to mention my two port scars! I want to know who her surgeon was! She looks flawless,” Joanna said.
Coping With Post-Surgery Scars, Body Image Amid Cancer
Many fans of Olivia Munn credited the actress’ breast cancer surgeon for hiding or minimizing surgery scars compared to their own experiences.
When you are in the middle of a health challenge, you may notice some physical changes in your body. The changes may include weight gain or loss, hair loss, or something invisible to the naked eye.
One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also frequently temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence. Your support group, filled with loved ones, can also help you during this stage of your journey.
While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are treatments that can cause visible changes to one’s physical appearance, other treatments that are less noticeable include endocrine or hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy “slows or stops the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors by blocking the body’s ability to produce hormones,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.
Dr. Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body impacted mainly by cancer treatment. She says although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”
“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like you to first spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.
Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Strongin adds.
Munn’s Cancer Journey
“I wouldn’t have found my cancer for another year – at my next scheduled mammogram – except that my OBGYN…decided to calculate my Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. The fact that she did save my life,” Munn said in an Instagram post.
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment she credits for catching her breast cancer is a “statistical model that allows healthcare professionals to calculate the probability of a woman developing breast cancer throughout their lifetime,” Dr. Ruth Oratz, breast medical oncologist, NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center; clinical professor of medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine tells SurvivorNet.
Photo: Instagram/OliviaMunn
Munn’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment score was at 37%, which led to her undergoing an MRI, ultrasound, and a biopsy, which confirmed her breast cancer.
Last February, she wanted to be proactive about her health and underwent genetic testing.
Genetic tests can be as simple as a simple saliva swab or blood sample. The results help your care team determine if you have a specific mutation that puts you at higher risk for cancer. The results help doctors tailor your treatment and are helpful for breast cancer patients.
“I tested negative for all (different cancer genes), including BRCA,” Munn said.
WATCH: BRCA Gene Mutation Further Explained.
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are among the most important genes to look for in breast cancer. Together, they are responsible for about half of all hereditary breast cancers. These genes prevent cells from dividing haphazardly and uncontrollably in a person without mutations. Mutations prevent these genes from doing their job and can allow unchecked growth of breast, ovarian, and other tissues.
However, two months after undergoing genetic testing, Munn was diagnosed with Luminal B breast cancer in both of her breasts.
According to research in “Breast Cancer,” luminal B tumors are of a “higher grade” and tend to have a worse prognosis. This type of breast cancer is estrogen-positive (ER), meaning the hormone estrogen fuels it. It can also be progestogen (PR) negative, meaning it is not fueled by progestogen. This type of breast also tends to have a higher expression of the Ki67 protein, making it grow quickly. Hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are often used to treat this type of cancer.
Luminal is one of several types and is distinguished by its molecular makeup. Other types of breast cancer types include:
Luminal A breast cancer
Luminal B breast cancer
Luminal B-like breast cancer
HER2-enriched breast cancer
Triple-negative or basal-like breast cancer
Each type has a specific, individualized molecular structure. The different types of breast cancer’s molecular structure may inform the treatment path.
WATCH: What Happens During a Double Mastectomy
Munn underwent a double mastectomy to treat her cancer.
When a woman decides to have a mastectomy, several factors go into that decision. Among things to consider is whether to have breast-conserving surgery such as a lumpectomy. These decisions should be made alongside your doctor by openly and candidly discussing risks vs. benefits.
“A double mastectomy typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removing of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, tells SurvivorNet. “The real length, the total length of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction [a patient] has.”
Munn is grateful she had continued support throughout her cancer journey from family and friends. She expresses added gratitude to her partner, John, who stood by her side every step of the way.
