Agree that Alistair Cook's journal entry is most impressive indeed - a true public service. It obviously is standing the test of time. It would be wonderful to learn of Mr. Cook's current status. I pray he is well and thriving as he so heartily deserves. At least from my observation it has been approaching two years since Mr. Cook last posted on this Forum. (Of course, there is no reason why he should. Life, as they say, moves on.)

To be fair - and only in my reading (and as I understand it) - the only references that even approach a negative suggestion as towards the good Professor now professionally resident in Hamburg - are some people (including several doctors) who have been hesitant to entirely sign up to Prof. S's regime for two reasons: (i) none of his presentations/papers - although presented in conferences/a text book - have yet to be published in professional peer reviewed publications (such is, say, required in terms of basic employment/tenure in any major UK university) - which I must confess seems remarkable for anyone involved in professional research - especially over a stated 30 year period and (ii) a lack of specific published definition of the control groups in his studies. There was also one journal writer on this Forum whose treatment with Prof. S. had sadly not proved a success - one of the so-called 13 per cent - and who wrote to the good Professor and his office in this regard several times and - as reported - got no reply leaving the patient of Prof. S. to seek out his own devices which he did. As has been reported here, the regime is not a panacea. (What today really is?) As ever: Caveat emptor.

Please know this is not in ANY way to doubt the good results and rightful dedication of so many hereabouts - simply an attempt to answer the question as posed.

Edited 03/31/16 08:07

Hi meunier,

a few comments to avoid potentially wrong impressions

a) "Prof. S.'s Regime" has not been invented by him but has been a standard protocol of the Erlangen clinic, which has been one of the pioneers in Germany in treating DD & LD with radiotherapy, e.g. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20127225 or http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FPL00002371. Seegenschmiedt's contribution was that he investigated 2 different regimes (21 and 30 Gy) over a very long period of time, including an untreated control group. There are other regimes being used but the one that also S. is using is the best researched one.

b) Seegenschmiedt documented his control group in detail in several publications, e.g. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007...-642-22697-7_44 or http://www.dupuytren-online.info/M-Dupuy...py_Internet.ppt

c) Seegenschmiedt has published tons of papers (more than 400) most of them in high quality, peer reviewed journals https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mic...dt/publications, including some on treating DD.

d) if the textbook that you are referring to is Ch. Eaton et al. (eds.) "Dupuytren's disease and related hyperproliferative disorders" (Springer 2012), each chapter of that book is peer reviewed.

Wolfgang

meunier:

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... hesitant to entirely sign up to Prof. S's regime for two reasons: (i) none of his presentations/papers - although presented in conferences/a text book - have yet to be published in professional peer reviewed publications (such is, say, required in terms of basic employment/tenure in any major UK university) - which I must confess seems remarkable for anyone involved in professional research - especially over a stated 30 year period and (ii) a lack of specific published definition of the control groups in his studies. There was also one journal writer on this Forum whose treatment with Prof. S. had sadly not proved a success - one of the so-called 13 per cent - and who wrote to the good Professor and his office in this regard several times and - as reported - got no reply leaving the patient of Prof. S. to seek out his own devices which he did. As has been reported here, the regime is not a panacea. (What today really is?) As ever: Caveat emptor.

Please know this is not in ANY way to doubt the good results and rightful dedication of so many hereabouts - simply an attempt to answer the question as posed.

Edited 03/31/16 09:37

Thanks, SB! You are good for what ails me. First time I've had a chuckle since being diagnosed. I admire and appreciate your calm, wise answers. Thanks for the time and energy you put into it.

Hello everyone

I have read Alistair Cook's report with much interest, and it has been the document I referred to the most when I went to the GP yesterday to try and put in motion a referral on the NHS for radiotherapy treatment.

The thing is, despite the seemingly obvious DD in my lef hand (spanishbuddha and steffan have seen the photos), I still want to be 100% sure that RT is the way to go. As such, I was wanting to send pictures of the current state of my hands, as per Alistair Cook, to a specialist like Professor Seegenschmiedt. (In an ideal world, I'd like to do the same to the radiotherapists operating in the UK, but I don't know if this would be possible).

Is it still possible to do this, as Alistair Cook did? Or is there any other specialist I can send my photos too?

Final question: do you folks know of the success rates/knowledge of radiotherapists here in the UK? I spoke to the secretaries of quite a few listed from the BDS website and they all seemed confident I would get a referral if the GP could release the funds to have it done in another area. Assuming the GP is able to do so, I would like to visit a renowned specialist in the field - although I know I can't be choosey. Is there anyone in particular within the UK who is considered with the same gravitas as Prof Seegenschmiedt?

Thanks for your help,

Jim

Thanks for list Steffen. I need to be more observant and find these webpages before asking! Going to take some photos this afternoon and send them off.

jimbob