I looked into radiation therapy in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Denkler referred me to a Dr. Torrigoe, affiliated with Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae. After meeting with me, Dr. Torrigoe read the German research, concluded that the treatment would be safe, and was willing to give it a try. However, since my insurance (Kaiser) didn't cover either the procedure or Dr. Torrigoe, I would have had to pay out of pocket. And as we all know, people who pay out of pocket get reamed in the USA. The cost to me would have been about $7000. Insurance companies of course get a much better price, so if your insurance co. is willing to cover it, it might be feasible.

I actually ended up going to Essen, Germany, for treatment at Dr. Siegelschmidt's clinic at the Alfried Kruppe Krankenhaus (Kruppe Hospital, in English). They offer a two week, seven course treatment regime. Since I was obliged to stay in Essen for only two weeks, and since I was going to Europe anyway for other purposes, it made the whole thing reasonably economical.

However, I'm sorry to report that the radiotherapy did no good in my case. It has now been over a year since I took treatment, and it seems to have made no difference. My Dupuytren's tissue continues to grow, at about the same rate as before the treatment. If memory serves, the Siegelschmidt study claimed that the two week seven course regime stopped the growth in 88% of cases. It may be I'm one of the unlucky 12%. Or it may be that a longer course with more courses as recommended by other researchers would be more effective. Or maybe radiotherapy doesn't work at all.

- Michael Lusk

I know Dr. Kline only recommends radiation very, very early on, or after NA with 100 % success, then the radiation, to stop the NA from coming back. At least that is what I believe he told me. I don't think he even recommends radiation to remove the cords or nodules.

When I spoke with Dr. Torrigoe in September of this year he told me that XRT for Dupuytren's was not considered a standard treatment in this country and that he had medical malpractice concerns and would not even think about treating me. I needed a second set of treatments (the first was done in Essen but 2 days before I was to fly to Germany the treatment session was postponed due to equipment problems) and finally was able to get treated by Dr. Penny Snead at the UCSF Medical Center which is a teaching hospital.

Dr. Snead is a former colleague of Dr. Seegenschmiedt's who respects the professor highly and so was willing to perform the second set of five treatments in San Francisco.

Bruce

Hi

I have DD in the very early stages - one nodule on right hand - and am hoping that radiation therapy will help. I live in a regional town in Queensland Australia and notice that there does not seem to be any treatment in Australia other than Perth. Can anyone advise of somewhere in the eastern states of Australia. Is it a better option to go to Germany where they are obviously so experienced in this treatment? I am very much on a steep learning curve so any advice would be appreciated.

Bstenman wrote about a Dr. Penny Snead at UCSF who was willing to do the Radiological Treatment, but I have been unable to track down her number. Dr. Denkler says ho knows of no one in the SF area who is willing to provide the treatment. Does anyone have Penny Snead's telephone number???

Rick