Judy Blume Battling Breast Cancer
Judy Blume, author of many popular children’s books from the 1970s, revealed that she has been privately battling breast cancer since June. She shared the news on her blog, via a humorously written post titled ‘!@#$% Happens.’
Blume wrote that she received her diagnosis this past June during a routine ultrasound, which was conducted before a trip to Italy. The author says she immediately sprung into action, despite the damper the diagnosis put on her travel plans.
She had a biopsy and then surgery last month, after doctors found small signs of invasive ductal carcinoma in their early stages. Blume chose a mastectomy with reconstruction, as opposed to a lumpectomy followed by radiation. She is currently recovering at home with her husband.
Blume even joked about having had small breasts, a la one of her most beloved characters, Margaret Simon from ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’
In the post, the author details the surgery and recovery process, all with her signature wit in tact.
Blume’s novels for children and young adults, which tackled topics like obesity, bullying, religion, menstruation, masturbation, divorce and first love, have exceeded sales of 80 million. The books have been translated into 31 languages.