Red,
DCIS is what I had so I had a lumpectomy, but then they didn't get it all in spite of very generous margins, so it came back. Like you, I decided that I didn't need the breast for riding and it could go rather than coming back frequently to have another hunk whacked off, or go through radiation or chemo.

The first couple of weeks were not much fun, mostly because of having to wear an irritating drain. (hint biking jerseys are your friend. It is much more comfortable to through the drain in a jersey pocket thanhave it pinned to your bra or tucked into the cammie/jersey with shelf bra and slit to hold it where the boobie was. I was one of those one who had the drain in for three weeks and then had to go back every other day for another week and a half to get it drained. But the healing seepage did finally stop, the swelling went down, the scar tissue pulled in and the muscle tightened up. I was back in almost full swing on bike and at the gym in six weeks and back to where I was weight wise before surgery about two weeks later. The one not so bad after effect that I did notice was a striking desire/need for an afternoon nap, but that could have been as much about the horribly hot and humid summer, or dealing with all of 90 year residents FIL's health issues at the same time I was trying to heal. Most of it was mental vacation/ check out rather than actual need for sleep but I did indulge.

Take it slow and listen to your body, eat good food that will help your body heal, rest when you need to, and when you feel like it, start stretching the surgical arm and shoulder up back and out so that your shoulder doesn't roll in as the chest muscle heals and contracts.

Hang in there, once the breast is gone, the worry is gone as well. They may or may not start you out on tamoxifen which is to discourage estrogen production in your body. For me that was the worst part of the recovery because it felt like going through menopause all over again complete with the weepies and hot flashes and broken sleep. Apparently it affects some people that way. Fortunately the surgeon warned me about that and so although it was not fun, it was doable since it only lasted a couple of hours at a time and the family was aware of what was happening.

Before you know it your will be back to normal and perhaps slightly giddy with the relief of knowing that you are out of it free and clear. The worry about the three month check on the other breast may catch you unaware, but since DCIS is non invasive, your chance for being clear on the second side are relatively low, since DCIS is a totally random thing to begin with.

I'm pulling for you.

marni