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BlesseB 
I am 9 days out from my surgery. All went just as Dr said. He removed the small tumor (2 1/2) and part of my lower left kidney. He did it with the Davinci machine because he said there would be less pain and less invasive. Not sure about that less pain part, I'd hate to see more pain. When the tumor was found accidently during a test on my gallbladder, the Dr said it was very small and would only require surgery to remove and I would have a 95 to 99 percent cure rate with no other treatment. But when he called 4 days later with the pathology report things weren't sounding so good. The tumor was an aggressive tumor and was already at a stage IV. He feels very confident that he got all of the tumor but it is something we will have to keep a close eye on. I go for my post op appt this Friday and hear the rest of the story I guess. I have not quit crying since he gave me the report. I know I'm not dying tomorrow but I feel like I have an expiration date now. All the scans done before the surgery came back clear but I feel like it must be lurking in there somewhere. My daughter insists I see an Oncologist which terrifies me. I'm so afraid of the word Chemo. Will this horrible fear of the unknown ever go away?
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Well that didn't take long. My GP's office just called and have me scheduled to see an Oncologist on Friday afternoon. Of course I took the news like always...a flood of tears. I think I'd be doing much better with this if I could just quit with the crying. I know that God has always had a plan for my life and that has not changed. It's just that fear of the unknown that I don't do well with. I'm a typical type A personality and like to be in total control. I've always turned everything over to God in my life but then I usually come back in a few days and ask Him if he needs any help. :)
BlesseB
Keep your good sense of humor. That goes a long way! Try not to worry - it is what it is and worrying does no good anyway! Try to make a list of the questions that are lurking in your mind. If you just put pen to paper they will come and then you can refine and condense them. Also, ask those closest to you to look at your question list and add, modify, suggest, etc.
In my situation it is my beloved husband of 17 years who had the renal carcinoma. He is 61 years old and the best man in the entire world. It is our second marriage and this time we hit it just right. So why did this happen?
He had incidental finding of a 5 cm tumor and had surgery 9/18/08. He did fabulously well and came back strong. He looked terrific, felt fine and gained back all the weight he had lost and then some. We thought we were nearly home free. Then came the 3 month post op and wham! The rug was pulled out from under our happy feet. They see something suspicious in his lungs. We embarked on this sorrowful trail again with oncologist, interventional radiologist and a lung biopsy which failed miserably. Today we went to Memorial Sloan Kettering for our second opinion and are working toward a solution which we hope to have some time soon. You are In AZ which is where my oldest daughter lives and I don't know what the best place there may be, but after today, we swear by Sloan Kettering. It is the primo place for victims of cancer. Get your second opinion before you do anything! Pray and think positive. Good luck to you.
GlorS