Hi there to all - just doing some more research now for a friend in South Africa that was recently diagnosed with the disease.

A bit of background on me - I was diagnosed in 2004/5 with the initial start of the nodules appearing in my right hand. A visit to a hand surgeon in South Africa was quite shocking - he checked my hand - wrote "Dupuytren's Contracture" on a piece of paper and told me to do a search on the Internet for information on the disease - as it would better explain what I had!
Obviously one of the first images I saw was of surgery being performed and the impact and shock it had on me was severe.
This prompted me to do tons of research and eventually I came across the Radiotherapy that had been done in Germany. As I was in the beginning stages - I knew this was an option for me and I downloaded all the info as well as the Powerpoint document to show the study of the trials.
Taking this to the surgeons was of no help and nobody in South AFrica was interested in helping me with what they termed "unproven and still in trials type of treatment" - even though it had been successful for so many years.

Eventually through a friend of my son (she's a physiotherapist) - she put me in touch with a Belgian Professor in charge of Oncology at one of the leading teaching hospitals in SA....he was quick to recognise the benefits and results and agreed to do the treatment for me on a trial basis......... even though it was seen as unconventional by others.

So my Radiotherapy was done in 2006 with 3 nodules in my palm and I'm extremely happy to say that it worked 100% - now nearly 10 years on - the nodules have remained the same and dormant and I have full use of my hand with full flexibility.

Such a pity that more friends have tried - even using my old patient number to obtain the same treatment and have been told in no uncertain terms that they will not supply the treatment needed ....surgery is only option! (such a pity the Prof is no longer in SA)