28 June 2006: The Diagnosis

So what do you do between a biopsy and the dreaded results call, you ask? My answer, Counting Crows concert and beer. Ok, so the concert didn't last 2 full days, but it's too boring to recount my daily routine (though I could actually dig up the Google menus for those days if you are really curious). It's also more fun than sharing how very painful it is to have your boob impailed with a large needle...did I mention it was hu-freaking-mongous? But I digress.

During my trip to Dublin--independent of the tumor which at the time had been diagnosed as a hormonal malfunction--I had a moment of clarity; I decided it was time to bring some much needed balance between life and work. In that spirit, I came home early that Wednesday to catch up on about three months worth of National Geographics (and, ok, some Rolling Stone too).

I ended up catching up with Charlotte and was chatting along on the phone when *beep*, call on the other line. Hmmm, who's calling me at 7pm from a private number? Click over. "Dr. Schneider here, the biopsy was positive; you have breast cancer." Uhhh? Excuse me? I'm 31 years old. I just completed the most difficult triathlon course in all of North America. I swim, I bike, I run. How is this possible? "I'm sorry"

I am confused. Shocked. Stupefied. I believe this is what an out of body experience feels like, except I wasn't floating anywhere. I was sitting on my couch, wearing my black and pink polka dotted pijama bottoms, staring at my fireplace. Frozen. *beep* Charlotte's still on the other line...what now?