I’m a little bit surprised that People Magazine didn’t put George Clooney on their cover this week, especially considering Clooney’s wedding is probably going to be this Sunday. Maybe he’ll get the cover next week. Instead, People Mag did an interesting exclusive with Joan Lunden, the journalist and former GMA host. Lunden was diagnosed with breast cancer in June and she’s been undergoing chemo. Instead of waiting for her hair to fall out from the chemo, Joan shaved her head and she debuted her wigless dome on the cover of People. She’s amazing. You know what I love about this cover shot? The diamonds!! If you’re going to battle cancer head-on, you should be dripping in fabulous jewelry.
When Joan Lunden was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in June, the former Good Morning America host knew she had two choices.
“I could decide to do nothing, but that’s certainly not my personality,” Lunden, 64, tells PEOPLE in its latest issue, on newsstands Friday. “I was handed an opportunity to learn everything that I can about this and try to help others.”
Her first move? Going public with her battle. She announced the devastating news of her diagnosis to fellow cancer survivor Robin Roberts on the ABC morning show, where Lunden left with some valuable advice.
“Robin told me waiting for your hair to fall out is excruciating,” she says. “So I didn’t want to wait.”
Just one week after finishing her first chemo treatment, the mother of seven decided it was time to say goodbye to her trademark blonde locks. “You know it’s going to happen one of these days and you are wondering how and when, so I just owned it,” Lunden explains.
But her decision to be photographed for PEOPLE’s cover without the wig she currently wears took a bit more thought.
“I’m almost reluctant to say it because it sounds superficial,” says Lunden. “But when you lose your hair, it just affects the way that you look at yourself in the mirror. You feel less feminine, pretty or desirable, and it’s not an easy thing to go through.”
But after much consideration, the long-term health advocate – who has been sharing her experience with breast cancer on her blog on JoanLunden.com and will appear during a weeklong series of segments on the Today show – knew what she needed to do.
“I had to make this big decision about whether or not to do the cover with no hair. It certainly isn’t the comfortable way to go, but I decided I was going to try and help others and show women that this isn’t the end of the world,” Lunden says. “You can go on – and that was hugely empowering.”
The People cover was debuted on Today, with Joan stopping by for an interview. She’s going to be a special correspondent for Today throughout the month of October. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Bless her.
Photos courtesy of Getty, cover courtesy of People.
What is triple negative breast cancer? I’ve never heard it worded like that before?
I wonder how often she had mammograms? I think they say every two years now, but seems like a long time-especially since it may not be caught early…
I haven’t either and I’ve had breast cancer. Oh, and shaving your head BEFORE the chemo takes it is incredibly empowering. I never wore my wig or scarves, just great earrings.
Triple negative means the cancer cells are negative for estrogen, progesterone and HER2.
Thanks, ginger crunch. Mine lacked those as well but my doctors never called it that.
It’s considered to be a harder to treat form of breast cancer. When cancer grows faster because of estrogen and progesterone, drugs like Tamoxifen that decrease these hormones can help. Also, as women enter menopause, these hormones naturally decrease also helping.
It’s a difficult to treat type of breast cancer. If you google the term you will find a wikipedia article on it.
She has always been so likable to me. She’s a wholesome celebrity of not-so-long ago before reality TV stars took over. I teared up when I read she has triple negative breast cancer.
I hope she beats the odds.
Typically, there are three receptors for breast cancer – when you are diagnosed, they test to see which kind you have. Mine was estrogen, and progesterone is another. I forget the third. If you don’t test positive for one of the three receptors, you are triple negative. Then the normal treatment options are not available to you, and you have to go with heavy chemo. I also think it’s an aggressive type of cancer that is more likely to reoccur than other cancers. I’m sure you can get a better explanation, but that’s my very basic understanding.
Good summary.
Kendra Wilkinson would look good with this style, also curious as to WHY hasn’t she left Hank?
She looks young and vibrant without hair. Good luck to her.
she is beautiful with a bald head!!!
You are right. I never realized how pretty she really is before.
When I volunteer for breast cancer, am I not only amazed by what these women endure but how they rock their hairless look. Yeah, Joan is stunning.
Joan looks beautiful. She’s showing and telling us that a cancer diagnosis isn’t death sentence.
Yes, such an inspiration.
she looks stunning, really beautiful. (i like this look way better than her hair style, actually, it really showcases how lovely she is.)
Wow. She is 64?!! She looks great. Good luck to her.
Good for her. My mom never wore a wig because she found them uncomfortable. There is nothing wrong with showing your bald head. My mom said if men could do it and not be judged , then so could she.
That is gutsy. I remember when Robin Williams got rid of her wig. We put so much emphasis on HAIR – it’s ridiculous, really, but at the same time, having hair counts.
Robin Roberts
ACK! Robin Roberts!!! Thanks!
She looks great bald!
She looks beautiful! Her face is stunning – hard to believe she’s 64. Good luck to her, I’ll be rooting for her!
I admire her attitude and forthrightness very much. I pray she beats it.
My mother has had an off and on battle with breast cancer since 1994. Recently, we where at the grocery store and a gentleman came up to us and said,” I love your hairstyle. You look beautiful. ” I started to cry because it’s been such a long struggle for her and that simple act of kindness really ment everything to her.
Best wishes to your mom.
Good for her! I wish her luck with her battle and am inspired by her bravery.
I do have to say I get really frustrated with the breast cancer charities though. They make so much money that I refuse to donate or volunteer. So much of the money goes to executives and not to mammograms or actual sufferers. I also get sick of how they sexualization cancer with stupid sayings like “save the boobies” and all that crap. Do you know that breast cancer gets more funding than any other? Colin cancer comes in second and all children’s cancers combined comes in third. It would scare you how much money Susan G. Komen gets every year an what jerks that can be about it (I had a bad experience volunteering with them.)
This is not to minimize the brave women suffering or their families in any way. I cannot imagine that struggle… I’m just saying I am tired of what big business breast cancer is. It disgusts me. I wish Susan G. Would spread that money around to other cancers, particularly children’s. Children’s leukaemia is not the same as a children’s brain cancer etc and they need more funding. It’s just a lot more fun to talk about boobies than kids who are dying I guess and I am sick of it. There are children’s cancers with a ZERO percent survival rate… Let’s help them!
/end rant.
I had breast cancer, and I have very mixed feelings about Susan G. Komen. On the one hand, I am alive because of breast cancer research, and eternally grateful to people who fund it. But when I actually had it, I found the organization to be very empty and unhelpful to me. They are all about “I am a brave warrior woman” and “I’m going to kick cancer’s ass!” That just didn’t help me. I didn’t react that way at all, and it seemed to be the only way they would “allow” you to react. So I felt like not only did I have cancer, but I was doing it wrong. Idk. I sort of wanted to shove those pink ribbons up their nose.
By the way, I’m fine now and nobody needs to say anything sympathetic. I’m sort of reluctant to mention it again because people are so nice. I’m not trying to get attention, I just wanted to comment. I agree that all cancer research or research for all cancers needs to be funded as much as breast cancer.
Joan is brave and looks beautiful.
That is very frustrating! There is no right or wrong way to handle your own diagnosis. Whatver you feel or need is right for you is the right way to be! I found them snide, cold, and stiff when I dealt with them.
It is children’s cancer awareness month and here breast cancer gets center stage again. Next month the world will be pink… Everything from NFL socks to appliances so I just want September to be gold like it is supposed to be. I don’t know anyone who is unaware of breast cancer but few people I have met have heard of DIPG and the death sentence it is for kids.
I’m bitter though.
I cannot reiterate enough though that I have so much respect and understanding for those who have suffered from breast cancer and their loved ones. I’m just really sick of the “charities”, and how those charities spend the money donated, and that they have made big business out of women’s suffering.
Oh, I agree with you that it’s crazy that there are “fashionable” cancers, for lack of a better word. I don’t think that means for a minute that you’re not completely sympathetic to breast cancer. You just want these other killers to have the same priority, and you’re right. It’s time to help the children and all other cancers, and there is a “big business” feeling about SJK.
Glad you are still here. We all must handle our diagnosis and treatment decisions in our own way. I’ve always felt uncomfortable asking people to donate for breast cancer only related charities, as if I’m asking them to donate directly to my own care. Instead, I have worked with the ACS and a local hospital’s (local but also world renowned cancer center) fund for research on children’s cancers. Some of what they have learned treating children is being used to help adult survivors.
For all of the money she has, she has no idea that the best way to treat cancer is holistically. I find it very sad. If you are interested, check out the Gerson Therapy. Also, Hallelujah acres. There are tons of ways to cure cancer naturally, that do not destroy your immune system.
Joan is great. She just had twins a few years ago.
How do you know? I’m sure she’s receiving holistic treatment as well. And I might add it’s not wise to do nothing but holistic treatment for cancer. I’ve known several people who tried that route and died. Working synergistically with medical and naturopathic treatments is best, as is energy healing. My take is that you should hit it with all forms of treatment.
She’s 64! She had a surrogate mother for the twins when she was 54. And no, holistic alone is not usually sufficient treatment for difficult cancers such as hers. There really aren’t “tons” of cures with those. Farrah Fawcett’s monthly trips to a German clinic for holistic treatments didn’t save her, ultimately.
Jade is correct – it can be helpful when combined with appropriate medical treatments. I’ve had BC twice, positive for estrogen & HER2, and been radiated, chemo’d, & ‘ectomied of a few miscellaneous parts. Like GNAT, I’m well now & don’t seek congratulations or sympathy or attention, but I know too many people who rejected standard medical protocols in favor of holistic or naturopathic treatments and died.
Susan G Komen isn’t my favorite charity either. ACS is the worst, based on my experience as a patient seeking information. Scott Hamilton’s (the skater) organization has helpful information. http://scottcares.org/ Lance Armstrong founded an organization which is also very helpful, aimed at helping adult survivors of all cancers. http://www.livestrong.org
She could have waited…My sister and a dear friend, both had cancer and chemo treatments and neither one lost their hair. It thinned some, but you couldn’t even tell…that being said, she looks beautiful, I truly wish her the best…prayers for her and her family…
True, I was stunned when my father got cancer and started radiation and chemo and didn’t lose his hair! I really thought that was a given with chemo! You lose your hair and feel nauseated and throw up a lot. Neither of those things happened to my dad, instead we found out there’s a lot of different kinds of chemo with a lot of weird side effects. One gave him massive blisters on his feet. One gave him major acne on his face at the same time that it made his hair have this weird feathery texture and look, it just stuck straight out like fuzz glued to his head. And then there was one where he couldn’t eat or drink anything cold, couldn’t go out in the cold or breathe cold air. And this was winter on the Canadian prairies so that was fun. He said eating/drinking/breathing cold felt like fire, just a burning agony.
Anyways, I guess what I’m saying is movies and TV lie, and that cancer and its treatments are complex and varied. Good luck to Joan, though, I hope she beats it.
The phase in which the hair is falling out us really upsetting.
I think with some kinds of chemo they tell you that your hair “might” fall out, but there are harsher or stronger kinds where they tell you it definitely will fall out. Maybe she had that kind.
@GoodNames – you’re right. I just finished chemo for ovarian cancer and at an info session for patients, we were all told that our hair will definitely fall out. So I shaved my head as well, and now I find hair really disgusting. Hope I get over that one.
There are 47 different types of BC so not all patients get the same chemo drugs. (Some don’t get any chemo at all.) Not all the drugs cause hair loss but several do. My drugs killed every last hair on my body, including brows & eyelashes. Certain drugs are guaranteed to cause hair loss. A couple of my friends whose meds were different had no hair loss.
Gorgeous. I hope she beats it.
Wow, she has a great head. If I ever have to shave my head I hope it looks like hers, all smooth and rounded. Also, her new “hairdo” really really makes you notice her wonderful eyes. She has beautiful eyes!