Joan Lunden Talks Life After Battling Breast Cancer: “I’m Doing Fabulous!” (EXCLUSIVE)

Today, Joan Lunden is stronger than ever! The 67-year-old star often steps out looking pretty in pink and her color choice is more than just a fashion preference, though, it’s indicative of how she’s changed her life since her 2014 breast cancer diagnosis. Now, she’s cancer-free and proud to raise awareness. “I’m doing fabulous because I am done with all of my treatment,” she recently said. “The silver lining of that very tough battle is that I got sent on a new mission.”

Closer Weekly caught up with Joan at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation New York Symposium and Awards in October, where the former Good Morning America host spoke in support of her new purpose — advocating for breast cancer research and awareness. Having cancer “definitely changes you,” she admitted, but beating the illness has brought her full circle. “I am the daughter of a cancer surgeon, who always thought I would be a doctor,” she explained.

Joan and her husband, Jeff. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

But Joan’s dad, Dr. Erie Blunden, died in a plane crash when she was 13, and she discovered medicine wasn’t for her. After her diagnosis, however, she found she could harness her experience as a TV host in a new way. By sharing what she learned during her illness, she said, “I can be an advocate and carry on [my dad’s] legacy.” Her top lessons are to be vigilant with your health and learn to accept help. “I am kind of Type A,” she admitted. “I had a difficult time accepting care, but you have to accept the emotional support.”

Joan’s husband, Jeff Konigsberg, and her seven kids — three daughters from her first marriage and two sets of twins she and Jeff had through a surrogate — offered love and encouragement. Now, she raved, “all of them are doing fine.” Having “come out on the other end,” Joan is grateful for all the family and friends who reached out to her. “[I’m] so appreciative of everyone who stood by me. Quite honestly, you become appreciative of everything,” she told Closer, “like every sunrise, every sunset — even when the dog rolls over!”