Inside Edition’s Alison Hall Says Reporting Olivia Munn’s Breast Cancer Led to Her Own Diagnosis: ‘Truly Miraculous’

• Last year, Olivia Munn revealed that she was diagnosed with early breast cancer after using a breast cancer risk assessment tool
• Inside Edition Reporter Alison Hall said covering Munn’s journey inspired her to be proactive about her health and eventually led to her own breast cancer diagnosis
• Now she’s preparing to undergo a double mastectomy and wants to raise awareness the same way Munn did

Alison Hall knew nothing about the breast cancer risk assessment tool, even after watching her mother’s battle with the disease. It wasn’t even until Inside Edition reporter, 33, was covering actress Olivia Munn’s breast cancer journey when she first heard the term.

In March 2024, Munn revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy after her doctor calculated her breast cancer risk score, which she said “saved my life” by allowing her to catch the disease early .

The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), also known as the Gail Model, is a tool used by health professionals to estimate a woman’s risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the next five years and over her lifetime (up to age 90), according to the National cancer institute.

The assessment, which only takes five minutes, uses a woman’s personal information to determine her risk, including age, age at first period, age at birth of first child, family history of breast cancer (mothers, sisters, daughters), number of past breast biopsies (whether positive or negative), number of breast biopsies showing the presence of atypical hyperplasia and race/ethnicity.

Olivia Munn’s breast cancer risk score ‘saved my life’ — what you need to know about the tool

Alison Hall.

Courtesy of Alison Hall

After hearing Munn’s shocking story, Hall decided to go for an evaluation herself and document the doctor’s visit for a segment on Inside Edition hoping to raise awareness. She later learned that her lifetime risk of breast cancer was 36%, similar to Munn’s result of 37%.

“Wow, okay, I feel good,” Hall said after hearing the news. But inside she was overcome with feelings of concern.

“It was surreal,” she tells PEOPLE. “I tried to keep my composure when I was in front of the camera, but it hit me inside.”

When analyzing the breast cancer risk score, women are classified as high risk for developing breast cancer if they have a lifetime risk of 20% or more. These women are invited to annual mammograms and breast magnetic resonance starting at the age of 30.

Olivia Munn, 43, reveals she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy

Alison Hall.

Courtesy of Alison Hall

With her results, Hall began seeing a doctor in April 2024, who recommended that she begin routine screenings: mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs. Mammograms are critical for early detection of breast cancer, which affects one in eight women in the United States.

“Of course, I don’t think I or my doctor expected to be diagnosed in the first year since we started this screening program,” she says.

However, in October 2024, Hall was diagnosed with breast cancer after her first breast MRI. She was told she had stage zero breast cancer, also known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), where the cells lining the milk ducts of the breast have become cancerous but have not spread to the surrounding breast tissue.

“Disbelief, shock, and then immediate gratitude,” he says of his reaction to the diagnosis.

“I really felt amazing that if I hadn’t done this Olivia Munn breast cancer story and found out about this test, I wouldn’t have caught this cancer this early. It could have been at least another seven years before I was examined in this way,” she continues. “I felt that this was a gift and that it was truly miraculous.”

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Inside Edition by Alison Hall.

Courtesy of Alison Hall

After her diagnosis — and a ton of research — Hall says she had a “gut feeling” she needed to undergo a double mastectomy, which would address her current cancer and dramatically reduce her risk of future diagnoses. She believes the surgery will be a way to “get some power back.”

“In the first few weeks after a cancer diagnosis, you really lose a sense of control over your body and your life,” she admits. “For me, having a double mastectomy was the right decision and I think it will give me and my family peace of mind knowing that I won’t have to go through what my mom went through.”

Hall’s double mastectomy is currently scheduled for Monday, January 13th.

“Of course, I’m a little nervous, but I also trust my doctors unconditionally and I just have an amazing support system,” she boasts. “And sharing my story this week has been so empowering and the outpouring of love and support I’ve received has been so comforting.”

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Alison Hall.

Courtesy of Alison Hall

Before the surgery, Hall received a heartfelt message from Munn, which she called an “incredibly full circle” in her journey.

“I am so happy that you have taken the risk assessment test and are now on the road to survival,” Munn said in a statement to CBS Morning. “You have faced this diagnosis with such determination and courage, and by telling your story, you are creating a ripple effect of hope and saving lives. I hope you remember that you are never alone in this struggle. I wish you strength at every step.”

Hall tells PEOPLE that Munn has been on her mind a lot lately, and she’s extremely grateful that the actress reached out to her. “Hearing those words of encouragement and strength from her was so, so meaningful to me,” he says. “And I will never forget her words.”

After seeing the impact Munn’s story of her breast cancer journey had on her, Hall says that’s one of the main reasons she’s now sharing her story publicly.

“I believe there is such great power in storytelling,” she says.

“I wanted to get the word out as soon as possible so that maybe I could help someone else as soon as possible,” adds Hall. “The longer I waited, it could mean more months for someone who didn’t do this test, didn’t go for a mammogram. So it seemed very important to me to do that.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education