Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival

In this brave and deeply personal memoir, one of America's most beloved journalists, mother, and New York Times bestselling author speaks candidly about her battle against breast cancer, her quest to learn about it and teach others, and the transformative effect it's had on her life.

When former Good Morning America host Joan Lunden was diagnosed with breast cancer, she set out to learn everything about it to help her survive. With seven children counting on her, giving up was not an option. After announcing her diagnosis on Good Morning America, people all over the country rallied around Joan as she went into Warrior mode. Within a few months, after losing her hair, Joan appeared on the cover of People magazine bald, showing the world she could, and would, beat the disease. Determined to remain upbeat-to look in the mirror with a brave face-her resolve empowered women everywhere. The Today show quickly recruited Joan as a special correspondent and continues to follow her progress.

A deeply personal and powerful story of pain, persistence, and perseverance, Had I Known is a chronicle of Joan's experience and the plan she formulated and followed to battle with her disease and treatment. As Joan reveals, while her journey was not easy, it profoundly changed her in unexpected ways. Her odyssey helped Joan redefine herself, her values, and most of all, her health. Following a new clean way of eating, Joan lost thirty pounds, became more aware of the food she was eating, and avoided many of the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy.

Dealing with the cancer also changed her perception of true beauty. Being attractive isn't about the hair on your head-it's about the strength and character you bring to everything you do. Positive yet down-to-earth, told with piercing honesty leavened with warmth and humor, Had I Known offers unforgettable, inspirational lessons for us all.

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Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival

In this brave and deeply personal memoir, one of America's most beloved journalists, mother, and New York Times bestselling author speaks candidly about her battle against breast cancer, her quest to learn about it and teach others, and the transformative effect it's had on her life.

When former Good Morning America host Joan Lunden was diagnosed with breast cancer, she set out to learn everything about it to help her survive. With seven children counting on her, giving up was not an option. After announcing her diagnosis on Good Morning America, people all over the country rallied around Joan as she went into Warrior mode. Within a few months, after losing her hair, Joan appeared on the cover of People magazine bald, showing the world she could, and would, beat the disease. Determined to remain upbeat-to look in the mirror with a brave face-her resolve empowered women everywhere. The Today show quickly recruited Joan as a special correspondent and continues to follow her progress.

A deeply personal and powerful story of pain, persistence, and perseverance, Had I Known is a chronicle of Joan's experience and the plan she formulated and followed to battle with her disease and treatment. As Joan reveals, while her journey was not easy, it profoundly changed her in unexpected ways. Her odyssey helped Joan redefine herself, her values, and most of all, her health. Following a new clean way of eating, Joan lost thirty pounds, became more aware of the food she was eating, and avoided many of the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy.

Dealing with the cancer also changed her perception of true beauty. Being attractive isn't about the hair on your head-it's about the strength and character you bring to everything you do. Positive yet down-to-earth, told with piercing honesty leavened with warmth and humor, Had I Known offers unforgettable, inspirational lessons for us all.

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Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival

Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival

by Joan Lunden

Narrated by Joan Lunden

Unabridged — 11 hours, 2 minutes

Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival

Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival

by Joan Lunden

Narrated by Joan Lunden

Unabridged — 11 hours, 2 minutes

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Overview

In this brave and deeply personal memoir, one of America's most beloved journalists, mother, and New York Times bestselling author speaks candidly about her battle against breast cancer, her quest to learn about it and teach others, and the transformative effect it's had on her life.

When former Good Morning America host Joan Lunden was diagnosed with breast cancer, she set out to learn everything about it to help her survive. With seven children counting on her, giving up was not an option. After announcing her diagnosis on Good Morning America, people all over the country rallied around Joan as she went into Warrior mode. Within a few months, after losing her hair, Joan appeared on the cover of People magazine bald, showing the world she could, and would, beat the disease. Determined to remain upbeat-to look in the mirror with a brave face-her resolve empowered women everywhere. The Today show quickly recruited Joan as a special correspondent and continues to follow her progress.

A deeply personal and powerful story of pain, persistence, and perseverance, Had I Known is a chronicle of Joan's experience and the plan she formulated and followed to battle with her disease and treatment. As Joan reveals, while her journey was not easy, it profoundly changed her in unexpected ways. Her odyssey helped Joan redefine herself, her values, and most of all, her health. Following a new clean way of eating, Joan lost thirty pounds, became more aware of the food she was eating, and avoided many of the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy.

Dealing with the cancer also changed her perception of true beauty. Being attractive isn't about the hair on your head-it's about the strength and character you bring to everything you do. Positive yet down-to-earth, told with piercing honesty leavened with warmth and humor, Had I Known offers unforgettable, inspirational lessons for us all.


Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

07/27/2015
In this memoir, Lunden, author (Wake-Up Calls) and former Good Morning America co-host, shares the details of her battle against breast cancer. In 2014, Lunden’s cancer was discovered via ultrasound; an initial mammogram showed nothing out of the ordinary, but she requested the additional exam upon learning that her breasts were dense. The veteran journalist, who has long been an advocate for women’s health, parallels her personal struggle with discussions of the importance of additional ultrasound testing for women with dense breasts, and she clearly describes the characteristics of triple negative breast cancer, which does not respond to treatments that target hormone receptors. Lunden emphasizes that each woman’s breast cancer is unique, and that each patient needs to work closely with a knowledgeable team. Lunden is well aware of the uncommon blessings of her notoriety; after some indecision, she agrees to pose bald on a People magazine cover, using her public persona as a means of connecting with and informing others. Despite her celebrity status, many will relate to her desire to maintain a sense of normalcy in her family, her fears about death and recurrence, and her courage and strength. Lunden’s forthright, informational, and intimate story will resonate with women from many walks of life, and particularly with those who have confronted this formidable disease. Agent: Ellen Geiger, Ellen Geiger Literary. (Sept.)

From the Publisher

Joan Lunden...has written a new inspirational book...For anyone that is going through what she did or has a loved one that is, this book will hopefully help you to keep fighting the fight.” — - Red Carpet Crash

Red Carpet Crash

Joan Lunden...has written a new inspirational book...For anyone that is going through what she did or has a loved one that is, this book will hopefully help you to keep fighting the fight.

Library Journal

09/01/2015
Former Good Morning America cohost Lunden (Wake-Up Calls) shares her experiences as a breast cancer survivor and introduces each chapter with quotes by famous people who have struggled with the disease. Told in a conversational tone, Lunden's work confides details from diagnosis through treatment. The author credits acceptance, daily coping rituals, and family support with helping her abide. Using humor when talking about overcoming fear, Lunden dubs herself, "G.I. Joan" and offers insight on the psychology of having cancer and rounds of chemotherapy. This positive memoir provides both perspectives and possible treatment options for those with cancer and their families. In 2014, Lunden appeared bald on the cover of People magazine to raise awareness of breast cancer, and she encourages readers to create a bucket list for the purposes of "momentum and hope." VERDICT This candid essay will certainly make readers feel less alone after the shock of a diagnosis and the maze of doctors and treatment. For Lunden's fans, breast cancer survivors, and their friends and families. [See Prepub Alert, 3/30/15.]—Barbara Kundanis, Longmont P.L., CO

Kirkus Reviews

2015-07-15
The former Good Morning America host takes readers backstage in this unvarnished account of her bout with breast cancer. A longtime advocate for women's health, Lunden (Wake Up Calls: Making the Most Out of Every Day, 2000, etc.) lives her life in the public eye. When she was diagnosed with two cancerous tumors in June 2014, she announced the news on national TV. The author describes the challenge of putting on a brave public face while undergoing rigorous treatment. Her stress peaked in September, when she was asked to appear on the cover of People without a wig to cover her chemotherapy-induced baldness. The decision to go ahead with the photo shoot was difficult, but she ultimately agreed. Her youthful appearance belied her age of 64, and her appearance was an important part of her celebrity status. "I am all about ‘sixty is the new forty,' " she writes, sharing her unwillingness to be called Grandma even though she adored the role. After her diagnosis with a rare type of aggressive breast cancer, the specialists she consulted were initially at odds about the best treatment protocol: whether to operate first or start with an initial round of chemotherapy before operating. The stakes were high. If the chemo treatment was successful, then the surgery would be less invasive; if it wasn't, postponing surgery increased the risk. Lunden opted for chemotherapy, then surgery, followed by more chemotherapy and radiation. A strict diet and exercise regimen were also part of the package. The author describes her elation when the doctors determined that her tumors had shrunk dramatically after the first round of chemo. The side effects from chemotherapy were rough, but with the support of family, friends, and fans, Lunden was able to maintain her active lifestyle. Though not without its overwritten sections, the book is inspiring and informative. An unflinching account of "the good, the bad, and the bald, ugly truth" about cancer.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940173575487
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: 09/22/2015
Edition description: Unabridged
Sales rank: 961,003
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