Judy Blume Reveals Breast Cancer

Iconic young-adult author Judy Blume was supposed to have a "dream summer" at a castle in Italy; instead, she got diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy in July. She writes about the experience on her blog, noting that now—one month after her surgery—she's "feeling stronger every day," and trying to decide whether to take a daily medication since she doesn't need chemotherapy.

The diagnosis left her shocked (no family history, no red meat, no tobacco, no alcohol, and lots of exercise), and the decisions (lumpectomy or mastectomy? One breast or both? What type of reconstruction?) left her exhausted. But ultimately, she feels grateful for the radiologist who recommended a sonogram that got the early diagnosis and her supportive family, friends, and fellow survivors. "I’m part of this Sisterhood of the Traveling Breast Cells," she writes. "When it comes to breast cancer you’re not alone, and scary though it is, there’s a network of amazing women to help you through it." Click to read Blume's blog in full. (More Judy Blume stories.)