Starting on medication is a weird thing with renal cancer, you don't just get it to be safe. Most of the treatments for renal cancer are to stop progression not to cure. I'm surprised she was not given the stage. but would definately find out, just ask the surgeon. Has she seen a urologic oncologist? She should that who is monitoring my cancer, but I'm also a stage 4. You can have pain for many months but if she thinks it out of the ordinary she again should see her surgeon and while she is there have him check out the hernia. I was dx with stage 4 renal cancer with lymph node mets in Sept. 2009 and just started on meds March 2011. Hope I answered some questions. your friend needs to take over her care and educate herself on everything she can. This web site would be a start

Sorry. don't wait ti; April if there are questions

Hi Julie,

It sounds like your friend and I are on the same track as far as the surgery and progress since the surgery are concerned. I had my left kidney, adrenal gland and renal artery removed in January 2011. My surgeon advised me that I had Stage 4 RCC with Mets on the lymph nodes that he was unable to remove within days of the surgery and had the oncologist call on me before I left the hospital. I was given a copy of the pathology report as well but I had to ask for all this information. I had an appointment with the oncologist before I left the hospital and within 5 weeks of the surgery was being treated with Sutent. My pain has been minimal but when it does occur, it's a sharp pain on my left side. If your friend is a stage 4, I would suggest that she ask why she hasn't been started on one of the RCC drugs to halt the progress of the cancer. She needs to take charge of her treatment regimen simply due to the fact that there are so many patients in need of care. While some of the knowledge she learns is scary, the majority of it is helpful and encouraging, but she needs to learn as much of it as she can. Knowledge of the beast is the best weapon. Best wishes for your friend.

firstly, if they "got it all", there is no follow up treatment. there are trials for preventative care (your choice if you want to join) but no protocol other than continuous CT scans.
secondly, your friend should get a second opinion. the doc should have no problem providing a referral.
as to the pain or discomfit, the body just went through major trauma. there will be on-going events that may last for years. I spoke with someone who donated a kidney to a relative and years later she still feels a numbness in her abdomen.
AND go here for more detailed discussions on the disease and treatments:
http://listserv.acor.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ACOR.EXE?SUBED1=KIDNEY-ONC&A=1
And here:
http://listserv.acor.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ACOR.EXE?A0=PAPILLARY-RCC
good luck, be well, Rich

I am going to respectfullu disagree with BirminghamVic. The fact that Julie2009's friend was not put on medication following surgery and that she was given a 5 year survival rate of 80 to 85% by her doctor is much more indicative of stage 1 and possibly state 2 than stage 4 as suggested, Obtain the surgical report and dischage summary if you are not able to get a solid answer from the doctor,

there was an article in Tuesday's NY Times Science section written by a doctor at Sloan Kettering. his wife is being treated for breast cancer by a colleague and he asked what her chances are of a relapse. her doc answered it does not matter - it will happen or it will not. the point being you do not live your life in fear. do what you can to live healthy and treat the disease when possible but do not freeze up and wait for an event that may not come for years - or not at all.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/after-a-diagnosis-wishing-for-a-magic-number/?ref=science
my diagnosis from a second opinion at Johns Hopkins says there is a strong possibility my kidney cancer will recur. yet because there is no treatment for something they can not find or see, all I can do is take the CT scans periodically. so, I play tennis, enjoy my grandchildren and continue to dance through life.with my wife.
my two cents. Rich

My husbands first round with RCC was simply to remove the kidney and follow up with CTs for years. He was not given a stage but was considered cured. Your friend just needs to follow up, even after five years. Do not stop having CT scans and maybe and MRI now and then. And don't stop living

Just because they say they got it all doesn't give you a clearance card
Mine returned a year later.... Stay proactive