I too was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma and decided after several needle biopsies and a lumpectomy that when it showed up again, to have a mastectomy. To me the most anguishing effect was the waiting for the phone calls to tell me the results. I had the mastectomy with a great feeling of relief, refused the follow up radiation and suffered through tamoxifen for 18 months before I swore off that as well. I am only three years clear of the surgery but since getting off of the tamoxifen I feel like a whole new person. I was back to training full time about six weeks after surgery but I had been doing elliptical, tread mill, stretching and riding on the trainer in the meantime so although I lost a bit of core strength I was overall in pretty good shape and getting back to realing feeling good was much after that.

Just a passing thought/hint. If you do decide to have a mastectomy, Bike jerseys make a reasonably good fashion statement and the pockets are great for the drainage bag.

Whateve you decide, go forward with confidence, take time to take care of yourself, let others know what you can and can't do and let them help you and most of all know that we are all here any time you want to vent, talk, ask questions or just say hi.