Joan Lunden removes wig and opens up on battle with breast cancer

Former Good Morning America host Joan Lunden announced to the world in June 2014 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. While Lunden was known for her iconic blonde hair, she decided to ditch the wig and show herself without hair on the cover of PEOPLE magazine's upcoming issue.

Photo Credit: PEOPLE

Lunden told the magazine "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."

While on Good Morning America, Lunden interviewed several U.S. presidents and their wives, including Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and George and Laura Bush. Lunden also covered the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales in 1981.

There are more than 2.8 million in the U.S. who are currently being treated or have been treated for breast cancer, according to breastcancer.org. About 40,000 women are expected to die from breast cancer in 2014 alone.

Learn more about Joan Lunden's bold decision at People.com. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, you can learn how to support the cause here.