Evening all!
Wow we've come of age - who'd have thought 
So many posts, I won't even attempt to comment on everything - I am tired out after my driving lesson and wouldn't make any sense anyway.
Hello to OneStep, you are very welcome of course, but sorry you find yourself here. - I was DX nearly four years ago, I had a mastectomy +chemo+rads and a bit of other stuff, but am only just now getting round to having a reconstructon done. In fact at one point I thought I wouldn't bother at all, but have decided now I'd like one. - It's a very individual decision, - and I think there are ad and disadvantages both ways - if you delay you don't have to worry about radiotherapy affecting your recon. and some studies show that having been without a boob for a while women tend to be happier with their recon. (because they compare recon. boob to no boob, rather than recon to real boob IYSWIM) - but obviously there are loads of people who have it straight away who are perfectly happy with their result and glad to have got all their surgery done in one go.
Sorry - not especially helpful - its a lot of things to make decisions on when you are still reeling from DX, but IME, - when you settle on a decision whatever you chose will feel right for you. Meantime - loads of luck with your treatment and if there are any questions about mastectomy I can help with - just shout out
angryfeet - I hope you have managed to get some more answers tonight (I think you are still at appointment) thinking of you.
Gig - I started to get sore under my arm after about two weeks of radiotherapy, then just after I'd finished (three weeks) the skin went blackish and peeled off leaving it very raw underneath. - My chest was fine, it was just under the arm I think where it is damper (yuk 
) and gets less air.
Don't want to scare you though - but forewarned is forearmed, you may well not get skin break down at all - not everyone does. If you get any problems insist on them keeping a good check on it - some dressings can help, painkillers, checks for infection - whatever you think you might need. Complain until you get what you need 
Loose clothing - don't bother with underwear - whatever makes you comfy.
Just seen little Sometimes is poorly - hope she's better soon.
Sorry - I've rabbited on again - I'm going to have a cuppa and then read over posts again. As you know I have thyroid brain atm, and am a little hard of understanding/remembering - and you've gone and changed threads on me - that's way too complex!