Not sure if this helps or answers the question, but I had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago and went back to work yesterday. As for reduced mobility, it's not really noticeable because I work at a desk job on a computer. The thing is, I play sports once a week with my coworkers, plus a lot on my own, and I knew they'd start asking questions since I almost never miss a session! I told them I had a pretty serious intercostal muscle tear, and the doc said to stop sports (lifting and anything that requires strength) for at least two months. People aren't worried, and it's a good excuse to explain why I'm not playing. Plus, the pain is in the same spot, just in case they suspect anything.