Olivia Munn’s Cancer Test Saves Her and Her Mother’s Lives in Family Discovery

Actress Olivia Munn, 45, recently shared a heartfelt revelation on social media: a breast cancer risk assessment test that saved her life also proved to be a lifeline for her mother. "My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer," Munn wrote, reflecting on the unexpected family impact of the test. The tool, known as the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), or the Gail Model, named after Dr. Mitchell Gail of the National Cancer Institute, calculates a woman’s likelihood of developing invasive breast cancer over five years and up to age 90.

Munn’s journey with the BCRAT began a year ago when it prompted her to pursue a biopsy despite negative mammograms and genetic tests. That decision uncovered Luminal B, an aggressive form of breast cancer, in both of her breasts. "I never would’ve predicted it would save my mom’s life as well," she shared, highlighting the test’s ripple effect. The five-minute assessment evaluates factors like age, race, medical history, reproductive history, and family cancer patterns to generate a risk score. A score of 1.67% or higher signals high risk, often leading to preventive measures like medication or advanced screenings such as ultrasounds or MRIs.

Dr. Nicole Saphier, a breast imaging radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, emphasized the value of individualized risk assessments. "Olivia Munn’s doctor may have saved her life by doing so," she noted, pointing out that Munn’s rare case of bilateral breast cancer—occurring in less than 5% of patients—underscores the need for tailored screenings. The BCRAT’s ability to flag hidden risks has brought renewed attention to proactive health measures, proving that a simple test can rewrite family stories.