Statistics and information about testicular cancer from https://www.testicularcancersociety.org/pages/about-tc:
Young men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five are at the highest risk for testicular cancer. However, it can occur in men of any age.
One in 250 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer at some point in their lifetime, and one in five thousand will die from testicular cancer.
For all cases of testicular cancer, the overall five-year survival rate is 95 percent, but the key is early detection. When testicular cancer is diagnosed in early stages, meaning the cancer is confined to the testis, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent.
Common signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include:
Painless lump or swelling of the testicle
A change in how the testicle feels
A dull ache in the groin or lower abdomen
A buildup of fluid in the scrotum
Pain or discomfort in the testicle or scrotum
A scrotum that feels heavy or swollen
Bigger or more tender breasts
If you notice anything unusual with your testicles, you should notify your doctor immediately. The main symptom of testicular cancer is usually a lump, hardness, or painless swelling of the testicle.
* * *
Even though we had different kinds of cancer, a lot of things that happened to Paul in the book happened to me in real life, and much more that wouldn’t fit into the confines of this story. Cancer treatments are hard. Support is essential. I was fortunate to have friends and family visit me to keep my spirits up and help with daily necessities like driving my kids to school (Thanks, Deborah!) and making meals (Thanks, other Donna!). Our friends even surprised us by decorating our home for the holidays when I was hospitalized so we’d come back to a dazzling surprise; thank you, Carilynn and Don. My friend Jeanne drove 1,200 miles each way twice to visit me, and both my sisters made the trek to spend time with me. My friend Holly lent me a computer and kept in touch with me late into the night of my final treatment. And my writing community rallied around me with a grand “Hats Off to Donna” party—Janeen, Sylvia, Linda, Jill, Laura, Ruth, and others.
Some friends didn’t show up, even some family, but there was nothing I could do about that except appreciate all the love and support I did get.
It was important for me to tell the rest of the story—what happens after surgery and treatments are over. The “after” part of the story is seldom told. I wasn’t prepared for how depleted I felt after treatments ended, or how depressed I’d become. While I felt pretty terrific and was happily riding my bike for miles shortly after the surgery, the chemo treatments knocked me down as low as you could imagine. It was particularly difficult when the get-well cards, phone calls, and visits stopped and everyone went back to life as normal, but my life wasn’t normal. I was exhausted, bald, and had taken an unintentional months-long break from a career I loved—writing.
After treatments end, you have to find a new normal, and that takes a while.
So, if you know anyone who’s recently been through cancer treatments, check in to see how they’re doing and offer to keep them company or help them if they need it. It’s not easy, but love and support from friends and family make an enormous difference.
Thank you so much for allowing me to share my story—Abby’s and Paul’s story—with you. It’s my great honor to write books that connect us to one another with shared empathy and understanding and allow us to feel less alone in the world.
We’re all just walking each other home.
—Ram Dass
Acknowledgments
My husband, Dan, did such a great job taking care of me and the real world while I took care of this fictional one. Dan is my favorite part of every day.
Our sons, Jake and Andrew, continue to teach me and inspire me. I’m so grateful to be part of their lives and to love them with my whole heart.
I hit the jackpot with family, like my awesome sisters and fabulous nieces and nephews, and my dear friends, who fill my well with laughter, love, and joy.
A tip of my writerly hat to my creative cohorts, especially Jill Nadler, who wrote beside me, both literally and from 1,200 miles away, as we worked hard to reach the finish lines on our respective novels.
I’m filled with gratitude for PJ Library’s generous programs that support authors who create Jewish stories. This novel is richer because of two opportunities they offered: the Author Israel Adventure trip—which allowed me to explore Israel for eight unforgettable days—and a weeklong writing retreat in cooperation with the Yiddish Book Center.
SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) has brought the best creative people into my life and continues to enrich my work life with meaningful connections and communities. I recommend the organization to anyone who has a passion for creating children’s literature.
Please support indie bookstores (indiebound.org). They are, along with libraries, the heartbeat of a community. Our local indie bookstore, Inkwood Books, has become our second home, thanks to owner, Julie Beddingfield, and booksellers Amy, Sarah, Jen, and Basia.
A story is written in isolation, then becomes a book that makes its way into the world only with a talented publishing team behind it. I’m grateful to my incredible team at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, with a special shout-out to my editor, Krista Vitola. Krista and I have worked together in different capacities since the beginning of our careers. Kendra Levin also contributed thoughtful comments and helpful suggestions to shape this story.
In memory of a remarkable person—Rachel Lozano—who, many years ago, graciously answered my questions about her cancer experience when she was a young adult. Rachel shared her talents, her compassion, and her story with the world, inspiring so many, especially her loving husband, Gabe. Read about her story here: https://afreshchapter.com/2019/05/15/from-impossible-to-probable-rachels-story/.
With deep gratitude to the wonderful nurses who cared for me in the hospital when I was scared and vulnerable. The work you do matters more than you can imagine.
I honor my family and friends who’ve also battled the beast: my mom, Myrna; Cousin Shelley; Aunt Iris; Bubbe Mary; my father-in-law, Jake; my mother-in-law, Jane; my sister-in-law Janet; and friends Caren, Monica, Gail, Carole, Cary, Elysa, Maggie, Wendy, Kieran, Peter, Linda, Deborah, and Sandra.
Finally, thank you, dear reader. A story is only half-finished until it is read and a connection of shared humanity is forged.
More from the Author
The Paris Project
About the Author
AUTHOR PHOTO BY KIERA SORRELL PHOTOGRAPHY
Donna Gephart award-winning middle-grade novels include Lily and Dunkin, Death by Toilet Paper, How to Survive Middle School, and The Paris Project. She’s Popular speaker at schools, conferences, and book festivals. Donna lives in the Philadelphia area with her family. Visit her online at DonnaGephart.com.
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Donna-Gephart
Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Simon & Schuster, New York
Also by Donna Gephart
The Paris Project
In Your Shoes
Lily and Dunkin
Death by Toilet Paper
How to Survive Middle School
Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen
As If Being 12¾ Isn’t Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President!
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Text copyright © 2021 by Donna Gephart
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Gephart, Donna, author.
Title: Abby, tried and true / Donna Gephart.
Description: First edition. | New York City : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2020] | Audience: Ages 8–12. | Audience: Grades 4–6. | Summary: Abby Braverman strives to navigate seventh grade without her best friend, keep up her older brother’s spirits while he undergoes cancer treatment, and figure out her surprising new feelings for the boy next door. Includes facts about testicular cancer.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020002284 (print) | ISBN 9781534440890 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781534440913 (eBook)
Subjects: CYAC: Change—Fiction. | Cancer—Fiction. | Brothers and sisters—Fiction. | Middle schools—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction. | Lesbian mothers—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.G293463 Abb 2020 (print) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020002284
Abby, Tried and True Page 19