journalist and former good morning america Co-host Joanne Landen considers her breast cancer diagnosis a gift. And by publicly documenting her journey with breast cancer over the years, she’s building a proud legacy.
in March 2024 today In an interview, Lunden, 75, recalled how she felt after receiving her diagnosis after deciding to take the public on her journey. “In that moment, I transformed myself from a victim to an advocate, and it made my fight against cancer so much easier,” she says, and now her social media followers tell her, “You took away the fear for me.”
Lunden’s cancer journey began in early June 2014 when she had her annual mammogram and the results were negative. Because her breasts have dense fibrous tissue, she also underwent a routine follow-up ultrasound. However, this time a tumor was discovered in her right breast, which was later confirmed to be cancer through a core biopsy.
“I sat there dumbfounded. How could this have happened?” Lunden shared on her blog. “I considered myself fit and healthy. I dutifully got tested every year and there was no history of breast cancer in my family.”
She jumped into action and underwent chemotherapy, followed by a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. At the same time, Lunden, whose father is a cancer surgeon, uses her experience to raise awareness about the importance of breast cancer screening, breast self-examination, and early detection.
“While I know this journey presents challenges for me, I choose to see this as an opportunity to carry on my father’s legacy and inspire others to take care of their health,” she wrote on her blog.
