@pattymltn
Any kind of radiation, even proton, would be last on my list of preferences. Its the 'gift that keeps on giving'... for the rest of your life. Though, if radiation was my only option, definitely proton therapy would be my 1st choice. There is not a 100% possibility of getting all the cancer, more like 75-85%. I was healthy enough for the surgery, and with the Mayo surgeon saying he believed he had a 95% chance of saving my kidney... those are pretty good odds when looking at any kind of cancer!
It took me about 4 mos to completely heal. Was pretty uncomfortable for a good 2 mos, even riding in a vehicle was horrid. I actually screamed into a pillow when we flew home from Rochester and landed back home. My husband was (IS!!) a saint. By 3 mos I was able to cook, handle housework that didnt require alot of bending over or lifting... my incision was 2" below my navel clear up to between my breasts... my last opioid drugs were taken on Day 6 after the surgery, and then I took them 1 time again when we flew home 5 days later. (Surgeon recommended we stay in Rochester til I stabilized enough to walk short distances, etc.) I am doing well now, relative to the left kidney surgery. Because I had 2 tumors, malignant, I'm considered Intermediate Risk for recurrence, so Mayo wants to see me every 3-6 mos. After 2 rounds of 3 mos, they lengthened it to 6 mos as my labs have been stellar. Now though, Im starting to have twinge of dull pain on my right flank where I have a 1.3 (1.6?) cm on the other kidney. 6 mos ago, the CT notes changed from 'suspicious cyst' to 'suspicious neoplasm that should be considered for further testing via ultrasound and/or biopsy at next visit, depending on labs, symptoms and urinalysis'. So, that'll be in October.
Ongoing.. but i feel very blessed.