In September 2014, beloved television journalist and host Joan Lunden bravely graced the cover of People magazine with a shaved head, publicly removing the wig she wore while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. In doing so, Lunden, the former host of Good Morning America, hoped to empower the many other women who were facing the same battle. Now, in HAD I KNOWN: A Memoir of Survival (Harper; On sale September 22, 2015; $26.99) Lunden shares the inspirational story of her personal fight against cancer—from that first moment of shock when she realized what was happening to her, her first impulse to keep her diagnosis private as she faced the day specter of her own mortality, and, ultimately, path that not only saved her life, but helped her redefine her values and become healthier than ever before.
“When I first heard the words, ‘You have cancer,’ deep down, I knew exactly what that meant,” Lunden writes. “It meant CANCER…The BIG ‘C.’ It also meant this is the real deal and yes, I could die from this. But then I started the battle, the fierce fight against the cancer cells and the warrior in me hoped I had what it would take to win—that when all of my treatments were over—the chemo, the surgery and the radiation—that my disease would be gone for good, never to return.”
Although she always had regularly scheduled mammograms, Lunden’s cancer was discovered when she took the advice of breast cancer expert Dr. Susan Love, who told Lunden that because she had dense breasts, she should have an ultrasound as well as a mammogram. She was shocked when her own Stage 2 diagnosis came through. As the mother of seven, with a hectic career, Lunden had no choice but to fight, and she won the battle with the loving support of her husband, children, family, and friends, as well as millions of fans who had spent all those mornings with her over many years. As she underwent treatment, she learned much she didn’t know about the disease and the impact that lifestyle choices can make. She gained a new perception of beauty, and with a new diet regime she lost 30 pounds and managed to avoid many of the worst side effects of chemo. Joan’s journey also reconnected her to her late father, a cancer surgeon who died in a plane crash when she was a teenager. Through her new role as a cancer spokesperson and go-to media expert on cancer, she is continuing the work her father, devoting time and energy to saving lives.
Joan Lunden joined Good Morning America in 1976, where she went on to become the co-host beside David Hartman for over 17 years. During her tenure, she reported from 26 countries, covering everything from presidential elections to the Olympics. After announcing her battle with breast cancer she quickly became a spokeswoman for fiercely battling breast cancer.
“The key to being a survivor is not letting that fear overwhelm you,” Lunden writes, offering hope to the many women who are also facing cancer. “You must find the strength and courage within yourself to let go of that fear and enjoy life, otherwise that monumental battle you just fought to overcome your cancer will have been for nothing.”