Thank you @blondie and @DaveWaz for your responses!

I had a radical left nephrectomy in January after feeling a bulge in my abdomen. CT scan showed a softball size tumor in my left kidney that was pushing on my abdominal aorta, pancreas and spleen. I have 2 small incisions on the left side of my abdomen and then another incision that is vertical through the naval. That one is approximately 5-6 inches long due to the size of the tumor. I was in the hospital for about 48 hours and went back to work as a medical assistant after 4 weeks. I still have days that I feel really tired. Keep up on your hydration and don't try to do too much too soon. Good Luck!

Don't know if you have had your kidney removed yet. Make sure you get a self administered pain PIC line. I really needed it when I had my napherctomy in 1995. Will they removing you kidney via lapascopics surgery, this was not an option 17 years ago. I was out of work for 6 weeks, and not fully recovered for almost 6 months. Also if you have traditional surgery, you may have problems with you waist line, I couldn't wear pants or skirts comfortable for almost a year.

i had my right kidney removed 4 years ago. the cancer went to both lungs. i took clinical treatments (high dose interleukin 2) and it saved my life

I had one kidney removed. Diagnosis was RCC. I had a quick recovery from the surgery with no complications. Took sutent for one month.. had a terrible reaction and consequently lost my sigmoid colon when it ruptured. Changed oncologists, changed to Nexavar which I took every day for 4 1/2 years. Now am completing my 3rd year cancer cell free. The original doctor told me I might survive 6 months!! That was EIGHT YEARS AGO !!! Have courage!!