American actress Olivia Munn has opened up about the shock of seeing her body for the first time after having a double mastectomy.
Last year, the 43-year-old Hollywood star found out she had stage 1 cancer in both breasts after her doctor suggested a routine scan.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Olivia Munn shares shock diagnosis.
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A month later, she underwent the 10-hour procedure.
“There’s so much information and you’re making these huge decisions for the rest of your life,” Munn recently told People.
She added that nothing prepared her for what she would feel and look like when she woke up from surgery and in the days that followed.
Despite knowing that she’d made the right decision, Munn said that when her bandages came off for the first time, she went into shock.
“It was incredibly hard,” she admitted.
“It was a lot tougher than I expected.
“I remember just looking in the mirror with (the doctor) and just having no emotion … when I got home, I undressed and looked in the mirror again, and that’s when I just absolutely broke down.”
In the months since the operation, Munn said she had learnt to accept the changes in the way her body looked.
“It’s much better, but it’s not the same, and that’s OK,” she said, adding that hormone suppression therapy had sent her into early menopause.
As a result the actress has begun to experience some menopausal symptoms such as hair thinning, hot flushes and exhaustion.
But all the pain and discomfort had been worth it, she said, adding that she was grateful to be alive.
“I’m extremely happy that I got the opportunity to fight,” she said.
“I was given that chance, and I know a lot of people in my situation don’t have that as an option.
“So I’m extremely grateful.”
Munn informed her 2.9 million Instagram followers of her cancer diagnosis and surgery in March.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I hope by sharing this it will help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey.,” she wrote, sharing pictures of her treatment and recovery.
Munn then shared a long note explaining her journey in detail.
“In the past 10 months I have had four surgeries, so many days spent in bed I can’t even count and have learned more about cancer, cancer treatment and hormones than I ever could have imagined,” she wrote.
“Surprisingly, I’ve only cried twice.
“I guess I haven’t felt like there was time to cry.
“My focus narrowed and I tabled any emotions that I felt would interfere with my ability to stay clearheaded.”
She added that she had waited until she had gone through “the hardest parts” before sharing the news publicly.
“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,” Munn wrote.
“The fact that she did saved my life.
“Dr Aliabadi looked at factors like my age, familial breast cancer history, and the fact that I had my first child after 30.”
After receiving a score of 37 per cent (likelihood of breast cancer), Munn was sent to get an MRI, then an ultrasound, then a biopsy.
“The biopsy showed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts,” she wrote.
“Luminal B is an aggressive, fast-moving cancers.
“30 days after that biopsy I had a double mastectomy.”
Munn said she felt “lucky” that the doctors had “caught it with enough time that I had options”.
She urged readers to get the same risk assessment test as she had done.
Munn also thanked her partner, fellow actor John Mulaney, for being her rock throughout the ordeal.
“I’m so thankful to John for the nights he spent researching what every operation and medication meant and what side effects and recovery I could expect,” she wrote.
“For being there before I went into each surgery and being there when I woke up, always placing framed photos of our little boy Malcolm so it would be the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.”
Celebrity fans and friends flocked to the comments section of Munn’s post to thank her for opening up about her experience.
“You are very generous to share your story,” wrote Jessica Chastain.
“I believe in doing so, you’ve saved lives.
“So much love to you and your family.”
“You are a warrior and I love you,” added Amy Schumer.
“Thank you for sharing this.”
“Your experience is so powerful to share!” added Sex and the City star Kristin Davis.
“Sending you so much love and strength, so grateful you found out early and can only imagine the emotional rollercoaster you have been on.”
