I had my first round of RT August 5-9. The doctor wants to see me on Monday Sept. 9. What is the best wait time? I am assuming he will want me to do the 2nd treatments on Sept 16-20. Does that sound like to proper wait time? I thought I saw somewhere 8 weeks.

Also, I am feeling more palm pain/aching/itching feeling in my right (RT treated hand) this week, and some in my left (doc did not find any nodules or cords in the left one, so did not treat - but I feel "stuff" going on under there at times.) Also my nodule and cord feel more pronounced today. Question-do you all really take it easy with your hands with this disease? Do you stop carrying heavy things, stop doing the things you need to do? I am just wondering if doing things like carrying in heavy bags of groceries, gardening, etc., makes it worse or if it just makes you hurt. I don't want to do anything that would make it worse! I am hoping that the 2nd round of RT will put an end to the progression, it is so hard to wait and not know what's going on in there! Do your nodules and cords fluctuate in size? Perhaps they get more swollen for whatever reason at different times?

Another question, do you tend to feel more run-down, almost fluish on days when your hands feel worse. I tend to feel like I have some sort of virus on days that my hands feel bad. Can't tell if it's "all in my mind," or what.

Thanks for any info.!

I don't think the duration of the interval has been firmly established but 12-16 weeks seems to be accepted in many instances. When I had RT I did notice a change in size of nodules and the cord. I don't know if it was a coincidence or not. Even a dermal pit that had been dormant for 13 years appeared to get somewhat active immediately following RT.

Abnormal uses of the hand seem to create more activity of Dupuytren's from my experience. I still do many things that need to be done but I think about how I do them so that there is the least amount of direct pressure to the affected area.

Lanod:

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spanishbuddha:

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What treatment protocol is being followed? The one used by ProfS in Germany now recommends 12-16 weeks between treatment series. There are reports of shorter intervals being used, 8 - 12 weeks, for the "German protocol" but this is not recommended.

What reports exactly say that the 8-12 weeks interval is NOT recommended?
In Prof. Seegenschmiedt's 2012 paper his results are based on the quoted interval ".. in 2 series of each 5 × 3 Gy in 1 week separated by 10–12 weeks (total treatment time: 12–16 weeks). [I understand the final text should read "12-14 weeks"]. So here the recommended interval is 10 to 12 weeks. Betz's paper of 2010 is based on a 6 to 8 week interval. My take on this is that a 10 to 12 week interval is good practice based on published work to date - but I am no expert.

Is that protocol for RT on ledderhose? My oncologist is doing 3 x 5 with 8 week break

joshlin9693:

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Thanks for the post so far. I'm taking this info. with me to my appointment tomorrow. My fear is that he will want to schedule it earlier than Dr. S says to do it. He didn't seem to like that I had been doing my own research and was questioning him too much. Docs can have a way of making you feel foolish. Wishing that I could get myself to Germany! Then I'd know I was in really experienced hands! My fear is that my oncologist really does not know about any underlying nodules or cords in either hand. From what I'm reading on this forum, there are docs who find a lot more going on than can be seen. Perhaps I should be seeing a hand doctor, as well as the radiation oncologist?

Anyone know a good hand doctor in Houston, TX? Please message me if you do.