Hi! New to the Group. *update*

As eug says, we've all been in your situation, either for ourselves or for a loved one.  I agree completely that Google is NOT your friend in this situation.  A lot of the websites have old information and, in many cases, it's conflicting information.  I know really well because that's the first place I went and I drove myself crazy (well, in my case, crazier than I already was) trying to sort through everything.  In addition to the notebook and smartphone that eug suggested, if you can bring another person with you to the appointment, that would be good for a couple of reasons.  One, you're going to be distracted on the drive to your appointment and another person can help with that.  Two, a second person listening in can pick up things you might miss.  My wife went with me and she picked up a lot that I missed.  Don't be afraid to ask questions or have the doctor explain things again if you are confused by anything.  I was blessed to get a wonderful urologic oncologist at Stanford Hospital.  He took his time and explained things quite thoroughly.

One other thing that comforted me at my first appointment was the waiting area.  Yeah, it sounds strange, but when we were waiting for my appointment, we noticed that none of the other patients waiting for the doctors from the various cancer specialties (including the urological specialty) looked frail or ill.  It was very comforting to realize that we were someplace where patients were getting really good care.

All of us here will be here for you.  It's a very good, supportive group.

Sorry you had to join our group, but I'm glad you found us - this is a great forum here. All of us have been through what you're going through, so we know you're gonna get through this and you're gonna do great. If you have any questions or concerns or just need to vent, we're here for you. 

The good news is that you caught it. [EDIT: misread the size]  While it's awful to get something so shocking while you're so young, since you're young, your body should be better able to handle whatever treatment is necessary. 

First piece of advice: when you go in for your appointment with the urologist/oncologist, bring either a notebook or your smartphone with you. The information will be coming fast, and your head will be swimming trying to make sense of it all. So bring something so you can write it all down. Then you can look things up later or ask us. 

Second piece of advice: be wary of Doctor Google. Advances in treatment happen quickly, so a lot of the information online is only a couple years old but is WAY out-of-date. 

As for telling your children, it's not easy. I didn't tell my kids at first either. After more scans and updated information from my urologist about my surgery, then we sat down and told the kids. My then 11 year-old was crushed. She was old enough to know what cancer meant, and while she found some comfort reading every book on cancer she could find at the library, she was the most nervous for a long time after. My then 6 year-old didn't understand what she was being told, but she picked up on the stress/worry in the family, so she just kept her head down and answered "okay" to everything. After a couple of days, she started tentatively asking questions to my wife - things like if cancer was contagious, things like that. By the time my surgery came, it felt really good to hear my kids able to joke about it, calling it "the Christmas daddy got cancer". 

Good luck in the upcoming weeks. Let us know how things go. We're with you and you're gonna do great - you've got this! 

My situation was similar to yours, I had a 3.2 cm (shown bigger in CT compared to pathology) Bosniak II Complex cyst 4 years ago and I was 42 years old. I have two young children under 10.  You can click on my profile to find out the details, I had open surgery and I wrote a long post about the recovery (https://csn.cancer.org/node/306100). I wish you the best outcome and take care.

Mine 2.5 5 years ago relax its going to be alright ? 

Sorry that you are in this place. We all didn't want to join this club. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. You have a good group of people here with lots of knowledge. Please let us know your updates.

Welcome.  Really sorry you are here.  This cancer can grow so big without any symptoms, so Im happy for anyone who finds it early.  I wanted to comment on telling your kids.  You do not have to say the scary "C" word to the kids.  Or to anyone for that matter.  But its enough to just tell kids that you have a growth, that shouldnt be there, and you need to get it removed.  Im sure you will know the right thing to say to them, at the appropriate time.

Bay area:  I thought the same thing in the waiting room.  "All these people look great".   I still think that.  Its a good sign I believe.   

My husbands 5 cm tumor was invading quite a bit into his vena cava.  He had a total nephrectomy without any significant problems.  He is much older than you.  He was in the hospital for about 5 days.  He did need a transfusion during the surgery.  Kidney cancer is very vascular, so it wasnt a surprise.   You know its really great that they found this out prior to surgery.  They are prepared and will have the right people in the operating room taking care of you.  My husbands surgery was in 2013.  No problems re that surgery.   My advice is to have surgery as soon as you can.  Yes, they can remove masses within the vena cava.  In my husbands case the pathology report showed it hadnt infiltrated the walls of the vessel.  Ive read where if it does infiltrate the wall, they resect the vessel.  You dont have to concern yourself with this.  Yours is not in the vena cava.  Im sure they will schedule your surgery very soon.  You will be okay.

i wish you good luck!all be good now surgeons very professional with all kind tumors.

I'll give you the simple advice that helped me with surgeries: You don't have to be brave. You just have to show up.

Don't worry you will do great I will keep you in my prayers for a speedy recovery