A group I am sorry you are in with me- Dads who had cancer but mine is alright these days.
That ball thing is pretty cool though, we did kind of razz Dad because he had a "purse" for his. It was like this messenger bag thing to hold it. They also gave him some cheesey fanny pack for his chemo drugs, like they were on a mission to turn him into a goober tourist or something. 
I would leave it in as long as possible and I don't like taking the pain pills but yowsers 90-ish staples, metal, shattered shoulders!
Amanda
2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29er | Specialized Phenom | "Marie Laveau"
2007 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Road | Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow | "Miranda"
You don't have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. -Lee J. Colan