Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival

by Joan Lunden

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062404114
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/22/2015
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	23 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Joan Lunden was the co-host of Good Morning America for nearly two decades, bringing insight to the day's top stories, from presidential elections to health and wellness. Her bestselling books include Joan Lunden's Healthy Cooking, Joan Lunden's Healthy Living, Wake-Up Calls, and A Bend in the Road Is Not the End of the Road. Joan speaks all over the country about health and wellness, inspiration, and success. Her online TV channel created for the breast cancer community, ALIVE with Joan Lunden (AliveWithJoan.com), and her website, JoanLunden.com, have quickly become go-to sources of information, bringing together experts on a myriad of relevant topics for today's woman. In October 2014, Joan joined NBC's Today show as a Special Correspondent for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Daunting Diagnosis 1

Chapter 1 A Normal Doctor Visit That Wasn't So Normal 11

Chapter 2 The Big C 23

Chapter 3 I Thought It Could Never Happen to Me 29

Chapter 4 Choosing the Path of Least Regret 38

Chapter 5 Finding My "Why" 57

Chapter 6 Finding the Courage to Share 67

Chapter 7 The Day I Started Chemo 72

Chapter 8 Good Morning America, I Have Cancer 81

Chapter 9 #TEAMJOAN: An Unexpected Outpouring of Support 88

Chapter 10 Going Rogue-Make Me G.I. Joan 99

Chapter 11 Creating My Battle Plan 110

Chapter 12 Cancer Ain't for Sissies 120

Chapter 13 Eat, Pray, Poop 125

Chapter 14 Port of Entry 134

Chapter 15 You're Never Too Sick to Throw a Party! 142

Chapter 16 Calling All Campers 154

Chapter 17 A Surprise Visit from Charlie Gibson 165

Chapter 18 Getting Back to Real Life 171

Chapter 19 A New Baby Brings New Joy 174

Chapter 20 A Bold, Bald Move 181

Chapter 21 No Turning Back Now 187

Chapter 22 The Unexpected Curveballs of Cancer 192

Chapter 23 One Lump or Two? 200

Chapter 24 The Best Birthday Present Ever! 205

Chapter 25 The Big Bald Reveal 215

Chapter 26 Wrestling with Cancer 228

Chapter 27 My New Normal 248

Chapter 28 The Connection That Changed Me 259

Chapter 29 Unbroken 268

Chapter 30 Had I Known 275

Acknowledgments 293

Editorial Reviews

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.)

Publishers Weekly

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

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

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

Library Journal

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.

Kirkus Reviews