I am 52 years old and 6 weeks post surgery(5/27/12) (bilateral Mastectomy) with reconstruction started right away (expanders). I never needed physical therapy which was fun seeing the therapists face when I got up and changed my clothes and use the bathroom by myself the day after surgery...it was kinda funny, didnt know I wasnt suppose to do that. I was discharged 2 days after surgery with 2 drains and started expansions 3 weeks post surgery. The removal of the drains hurt worse than the original surgery....if they have you practice "breathing" before removal, you know its going to hurt...lol. My goal is 600cc in each breast to make way for 500cc implants. I am currently at 480cc on the left and 450 on the right(removal of some lymph nodes cause a slower healing process). I asked for accelerated expansions to get it done as fast as possible, and they are rather painful, but I just want it done. So I am getting 120 to 130 cc each week. I am drinking lots of water and using lots of lotion and eating extremely healty to make sure the skin stays healthy and grows properly. I went back to work 5 weeks post surgery to a VERY busy retail position that involves lots of lifting and upper body motion and have found I start swelling around the collar bone and under the arm after approx 6-7 hours, so trying to get the boss to cut my hours a bit. All in all despite the cancer diagnosis it hasnt been as bad aas I prepared myself for. I read tons of info on the net and prepared for the worse, and I feel after reading some of the other stories I am a very lucky woman. Good luck to all my fellow "sisters" out there