Hi Michelle,
Love your new photo
The mastectomy/reconstruction question....that is a difficult one. I had bilateral DIEP reconstruction after I finished chemo. DIEP is like TRAM, but completely muscle-sparing. I don't feel like I gave up my breasts at all. OK I have some weird scars and not much sensation.
I had many reasons to prophylactically reconstruct the "other" breast. Mainly because I had very dense breasts and they missed my original tumor for 2 years. Anyway, of course it is major surgey and nothing to take lightly, but my new ones are fabulous- like I was 19 again LOL.
I highly recommend this new website that discusses all kinds of reconstruction
http://www.breastreconstruction.org/
They have lots of info and patient testimonials.
Good luck with your decision and I am just a pm away if want anymore of my opinions/experiences 
__________________
Are we there yet?
Dx 10/05 IDC, multi-focal, triple +, 5 nodes+
MRM, 4 DD A/C, 12 weekly taxol + herceptin
rads concurrent with taxol/herceptin
finished herceptin 01/08
ooph, Arimidex, bilateral DIEP reconstruction
NED
Univ. of WA, Seattle vaccine trial '07
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