Children's book author Judy Blume announced today on her blog that she was diagnosed with breast cancer early this summer.
"A visit to the radiologist on June 12 for a routine ultrasound (dense breast tissue) led to a core biopsy," Blume wrote in her blog appropriately titled "!@#$% Happens". "It was ductal carcinoma. Wait – me? There's no breast cancer in my family (recent extensive genetic testing shows no genetic connection). I haven't eaten red meat in more than 30 years. I've never smoked, I exercise every day, forget alcohol - it's bad for my reflux - I've been the same weight my whole adult life. How is this possible? Well, guess what – it's possible."
Blume, 74, began writing while her children were attending preschool. Her first published book was "The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo," in 1969. Since then she has written dozens more for children and young adults that have exceeded sales of $80 million. Her books also have been translated into 31 languages.
After being diagnosed, Blume had many decisions to make, including to have mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Then implants or autologous?
"If implants, saline or silicone? By then I was so tired of having to make decisions I went with whatever would make the surgery easiest on me, give a decent result, and left the rest to the plastic surgeon, who had been highly recommended and was part of my team from the beginning. (silicone implant)," she writes.
Today, as Blume goes public with her news, it has been one month since she had her surgery. She is living in New York and says she is feeling stronger every day.
"I'm able to read again without falling asleep. Which doesn't mean I don't need a nap every day," Blume writes. "I'm not working on my book yet (have just been given permission to type an hour at a time with arm exercises in between) but I'm thinking about getting back to it after Labor Day, kind of like starting school."
