I've She wrote her autobiography, I'm Joan Lunden, Good Morning, in 1986, in which she shared some of the challenges she faced as a female journalist. She has been a national spokesperson for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. That's because they wanted her to pose without her wig, which she was wearing as a result of hair loss from breast cancer treatments. Joan Lunden underwent breast cancer surgery back in 2014 to get rid of a tumor and four nodes. I went for routine mammogram (which I had not had for about 5 years). Also See: Fox Reporter Bret Baiers Plastic Surgery The Untold Truth! Shes since appeared in 2019s Theresa & Allison, 2017s I, Witness and 2013s A Crime to Remember. Try to get up each day and have something to do, even if its a goal like taking a walk outside to get fresh air. She has to be included in this journey, so I decided she could help cut my hair. She is currently the spokesperson for A Place for Mom, a national senior care referral service. I hope to inspire fellow warriors and share what I'm learning She found fame as the co-host of Good Morning America from 1980-1997. She shared her medical condition with fans on her website, explaining that "I consider myself fortunate that I found this in the early stages." There is even an option now to have a small sticky device attached to your arm that you can wear home and have the medicine administered the next day without ever going back to the hospital. So the journey began. Joan Lunden is reflecting back on her health journey as a breast cancer survivor and how her early advocacy impacted the women's health space. Also, she has been able to serve as a correspondent. I dont know if I ever would have felt it.. Feb 13, 2020 10:30 A.M. In those first appointments, its like youre in la-la land, its somewhat out-of-body and its difficult to retain all the information. Dont go there, you cant allow yourself to do this, and I resolved to never go there again. I learned a lot about various ways to help ease the process. My feet continued to get worse. Joan is loaded with an abundance of volume and bounce in her short layered hairstyle. verify here. Lunden was born in Sacramento County, California, the daughter of Gladyce Lorraine (ne Somervill) and Dr. Erle Murray Blunden, a physician. Lunden was born Joan Elise Blunden on September 19, 1950, in Fair Oaks, California. More at IMDbPro McKeon Products now offers a full range of moldable and pre-molded silicone and foam earplugs for a variety of uses. She has appeared on the Biography program and Biography Channel. In 1975, Lunden joined New York's WABC-TV Eyewitness News, at which time her name was changed to avoid being called "Blunder". This website covers the articles of celebrities and their lifestyle. Together we can all become our own best health advocates. Today, she is cancer-free and has become an advocate for other women. Start reading labels: I always considered myself a label reader, but I wasnt. All rights reserved. She said, I dont think you even have the ability to perceive when youre really tired. I am pretty tough, but this was almost more pain than I could stand. Lunden's publicist said in a statement: The company is still family owned and operated. Weight&Skin is a part of FFN (Free Folk Nation) Media Group. Again I decided I better get a copy of the biopsy before I went to the doctor. I showed it to my boss, who happens to be my best friend, we both were speechless with tears in our eyes. He knew a waterproof earplug would also help prevent the painful outer ear infections known as "swimmer's ear". She has been able to work as a host and a news anchor. She was hired as a trainee for KCRA's news department in 1973, and by 1975, Lunden was a weather person, reporter, and anchor for the station. I choose the bilateral and reconstruction. Hydration, hydration, hydration. Comedic actress Joan Cusack, sister of actor John Cusack, earned best supporting actress nominations for roles in the films Working Girl and In & Out. Lunden started at the ground level in the news business. [13] They have four children, two sets of twins, Jack, Kim (born 2005), Kate and Max (born 2003), born with the help of a surrogate mother. The emotional roller coaster that we travel during the treatment phase is like no other. And candidly, having no history of breast cancer in my family, I had always walked through life feeling rather immune to the disease. Doctors found two tumors in my right breast a triple negative tumor and a DCIS tumor. That same year, she tackled a subject she knew wellmotherhoodin Joan Lunden's Mothers Minutes, which was also the name of a special segment she did on television. We'll be covering breast cancer awareness all month long, check out this page for more stories. The tumor was way back in my right breast, back against the chest wall, she says. She has three daughters, Jamie, Lindsay and Sarah, from her first marriage. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. 5 min read A TV host, broadcast journalist, and author, Joan Lunden spent 17 years co-hosting ABC's Good Morning America (GMA) in the '80s and '90s. Her most recent television shows include hosting DirectTV's series Hometown Heroes and the Emmy-winning special America's Invisible Children. Joans third child, Sarah, was born in 1987. Joans eldest daughter, Jamie, was born in July 1980. Plastic surgery and surgical operations are not uncommon these days, but they are not always discussed publicly either. Despite high-profile accounts of well-renowned personalities opting for mastectomy first and foremost, sometimes skipping chemotherapy; Dr. Vered Stearns reckons giving chemotherapy initially can help reduce the size of a tumor, make surgery easier and make breast preservation possible. My oldest daughter Jamie lives with me and she said it was the worst weekend watching me try to make the decision. Ask your radiologist if you have dense breasts and if the answer is yes, ask them about secondary screening. Hes the one who finally said, I think that time is of the essence and that we should try another way.'. [They are] growing into such respectful, confident and compassionate young adults, she gushed on Instagram in June 2020. TODAY is officially kicking off our #PinkPowerTODAY series for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month where we're celebrating survivors, supporting those currently battling cancer and remembering loved ones we've lost. [citation needed]. Now that Max and Kate are no longer youngsters, Joan cant believe how big her twins are. From hearth health to brain health, sleep to fitness and nutrition, Outside of GMA, Lunden continued to work on a number of projects, including a short-lived syndicated show, Everyday with Joan Lunden, which was produced by her husband. Womens Brain Health Initiative is a Canadian and U.S. charitable foundation established in 2012 and is solely dedicated to protecting the brain health of women. She married her husband, Evan Weinberg, on August 25, 2012, and they are the proud parents of one child. As frontwoman for the Runaways, Joan Jett became a female pioneer in the male-dominated world of rock music. Actress Joan Collins played Alexis Carrington Colby, the vicious, vengeful ex-wife of patriarch Blake Carrington, on Aaron Spellings prime-time drama Dynasty. The pain was pretty intense. The surgery it's self didn't go as we would have liked. But then she decided to share her story, first on Good Morning America, and later on NBC, because she knew it could help others. The effects you see in about a week or two usually last about four months. She married the owner of Camp Takajo, Jeff Konigsberg on April 18, 2000. Joan became a mom for the first time when she welcomed her eldest daughter, Jamie, alongside then-husband Michael A. Krauss in 1980. Lunden has been able to author eight books that have been able to enjoy good sales. I was lucky enough to have family with me and I definitely found strength in my loved ones, they were completely amazing. experience that it can also have its challenges. Lunden has become a spokeswoman for surrogacy. Advertisement Joan has been working as a journalist since 1973 when she was hired as a trainee for the news department of KCRA. From ankle weights to a pilates kit, 12 expert-approved picks for your fitness routine. Devin swims competitively with the United States Masters Swimming organization at the championship level and Pete is an avid triathlete and Ford Ironman Triathlon finisher. On March 28, 2016, it was announced that Lunden would be presented the WWE's second annual Warrior Award at the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 2, 2016. Raymond Benner's sons Devin Benner, now CEO, and Pete Benner, continue in their father's footsteps at McKeon by keeping a hands-on approach to product research and development. The options were lumpectomy, left mastectomy, or bilateral mastectomy. Joan and her longtime hubby, Jeff, welcomed their twins Max and Kate in June 2003. So here I go again with decision. In addition to writing and television work, she is a popular public speaker. She also explored personal transitions, change, and opportunity in the book, A Bend in the Road Is Not The End of the Road (1998). Joan Lunden Productions. An article in People magazine said that Lunden was very inexperienced when she arrived and it showed in her reporting. Here, she shares. For years, Lunden played second fiddle to Hartman who handled most of the serious news pieces. It's a rewarding role, but I know from personal [6], She is also a public speaker in breast cancer awareness advocacy.[7][8]. Popular Joan Lunden attended the ABC Televisions 75th Anniversary celebration in Hollywood, California on March 16, 2003. She was one of only three American journalists to interview Prince Charles during his 1983 visit to the United States. I had a clean mammogram and then walked across the hall to get an ultrasound since I have dense breast tissue and found aggressive breast cancer that could have killed me. In 1962, Raymond Benner, an up-and-coming symphony orchestra musician crossed paths with an elderly pharmacist who wanted to sell his earplug business. OMG, we now officially have four kids in high school!. Despite a hectic schedule that usually involved getting to the studio extremely early in the morning, Lunden found time for other projects. Also, being the avid swimmer he was, he thought a stickier, more malleable substance would better seal out water, thus preventing the annoyance of water-clogged ears. Charitable # 80099 3206 RR0001 | 501(C)(3) | Tax-exempt organization. She was 64 years old. And Im here. But when "People" magazine called her in September 2014 and asked her to pose for the cover, she had to think about it. With her ever increasing popularity, Lunden eventually negotiated a better contract to be on more even footing with Hartman. The next day I had a biopsy done. By 1975, she was a weather person, reporter and anchor for the station. Joan Bennett Kennedy is a pianist, a former model, and the former wife of Senator Edward Kennedy. As Benner's then small family business grew, it moved from his home's basement through eight ever-expanding facilities. She was a visiting instructor at Montclair State College in New Jersey, where she taught a course in broadcast journalism. My chemo was giving me some problems with my memory and my family was worried. Do you have a question about breast cancer? Broaden Your Mind Video. So I think that I was wise in my choice.. In June 2015, one year after being diagnosed with breast cancer she is now cancer free. Joan and Jeffs second set of twins, Kim and Jack, made their debut in March 2005. In 2000, Lunden married summer camp owner, Jeff Konigsberg, who was roughly a decade her junior. Womens Brain Health Initiative 2022. Joan Lunden Productions. By the time I got home I had huge blisters on all of my toes. He was going to tell me about the results and then have be come back on Monday to discuss the options. Her course of treatment first recommended for chemotherapy, which decreased her tumor by 95%. Jul 30, 2022 - Like most women, I've had many hairstyles over the course of my lifetime, only mine got publicly documented since I spent my life in front of a camera. Near the end of her tenure with GMA, Lunden went through some personal changes. Joan Lunden gave a box of Mack's Earplugs to her successor as part of a "Good Morning America Survival Kit" on her last show. Pink Power TODAY: Joan Lunden talks to Hoda Kotb about breast cancer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' revelation of her breast cancer draws outpouring of support, Olivia Newton-John opens up about her breast cancer recurrence, Dense breast tissue makes spotting cancer like finding 'a snowball in a snowstorm'. The before and after pictures suggest very little as well. Joan Lunden, 70, looks incredible for her age, so its not entirely improbable to imagine she went to a plastic surgeon a fair few times in her career. I still wanted that life where youre running around chasing kids on bikes and riding bikes with them.. Lunden is on the board of PassportMD, an online personal health record system that uses Microsoft HealthVault, which allows families to maintain and organize their family health records. Depending on the filler, it usually lasts from six months to two years. Joan, capture that warrior, she says. I talked it out all weekend. Lunden is the mother of seven and lives in Connecticut with her second husband. You see I am strong and I am the one that that helps everyone else with their problems. My surgeon was a wonderful man. This year I needed to have my endoscopy, colonoscopy, and my mammogram. The day after we returned I showed the nurses giving me my chemo my feet. The former Behind Closed Doors star acknowledged the type of therapy she had preferred was pretty toxic, but the specialist assured her she was convinced she wouldnt have cancer left if she took this course of action. Kelly Ripa is the co-host of ABC's morning talk show 'Live with Kelly and Ryan.' I decided to fight and to BELIEVE that I was going to be OK. For me, that was a powerful tool in my healing. When they did my mammogram they noticed a area of concern, so immediately I had an ultrasound of my left breast. are the property of the respective companies. Lunden was the co-host of ABC's Good Morning America from 1980 to 1997, and has authored eight books. Since her cancers were found in the back of her breast, had Joan Lunden first elected to go for surgery, she wouldve been left with two vastly distinct-looking breasts that would have undergone comprehensive corrective surgery. At one point, its tossed back into your hands and ultimately you have to make the decision about treatment. With her first husband, Michael Krauss, Lunden raised three girls now grown-up and successfully marketed her wholesome image, lending her name to a series of books on parenting, cooking and fitness. After thinking through I was leaning for left mastectomy. Its because of thicker wrinkles. She has been married to Jeff Konigsberg since 18 April 2000. The spasms in the breast area and the pain was not getting much better. Now we both are getting a little scared. After leaving the show that September, she continued to work in television, creating a new series called Behind Closed Doors with Joan Lunden. Tackling motherhood in her fifties, Lunden answered critics about being an older mother in a Good Housekeeping article. I called and went back to see the plastic surgeon. You will be so happy to have them to look back on. And thank goodness I did. are the property of the respective companies. Lunden hosted ABC's broadcast of the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, from 1989 to 1991, and from 1983 to 1996, she hosted the Walt Disney World Easter and Christmas Parades along with Alan Thicke and Regis Philbin. Not getting much better we now officially have four kids in high school! broadcast... During the treatment phase is like no other try another way. 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