Had I Known

July 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.

September 1, 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

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2015

For nearly two decades, Lunden was the cohost of Good Morning America, and it was on that show that she announced that she had breast cancer. A few months later, she appeared bald on the cover of People magazine, revealing the I-can-beat-it determination that informs this memoir.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2015
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.

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2015
In this refreshingly candid memoir, Lunden, former cohost of ABC's Good Morning America, shares the story of her recent breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and her decision to appear bald-headed on the cover of People. The 64-year-old mother of seven (three from her first marriage and two sets of twins from her second) openly admits that some choices may have increased her risk, including hormone replacement supplements to avoid menopause symptoms, pumping more hormones into her body for unsuccessful rounds of in vitro fertilization, and exercising and sleeping too little. Fortunately, she also diligently got annual mammograms, and because of her dense breasts, an ultrasound that revealed her 2.3-centimeter main tumor. Fans of inspirational quotes will like reading lines from such cancer survivors as Ingrid Bergman, Angelina Jolie, Diahann Carroll, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Crow, and John Wayne. And Lunden's fans will enjoy learning more about her life. With longtime coauthor and friend Morton, Lunden offers a chatty book with an empowering message for women with breast cancer.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)