Just before I was to see my hand surgeon about my recurring DD and new LD nodules, I discovered this incredibly informative website and learned about the RT option – thank you, all. My surgeon wanted to operate on both hands again, just a few years since surgery -- one hand at a time, with a recovery period of one year (each) this time. He dismissed my suggestion for RT, saying it can cause cancer. I then asked my GP to refer me to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, again thanks to info on this site.

Princess Margaret is one of the top five cancer research centres in the world. I was given my appointment at the sarcoma clinic in less than two weeks and was told by the radiation oncologist that I am a good candidate for RT on both hands and both feet, presumably because LD nodules are new and because I have an aggressive form of DD (so the upside is greater). I am scheduled for radiation in the fall, but could have arranged it earlier. For my hands, I will first have to have NA to release a contracture, timed 2-3 weeks before the start of radiation. As there are only a couple of doctors performing NA in Toronto, this may be a challenge.

The RT is done five days in a row, with a month off and then another five-day session. The whole palm and sole are irradiated in contrast to the targeted approach on nodules used in Germany.

Initially, I was prepared to travel twice to Hamburg, but will pursue treatment at Princess Margaret. I am grateful that despite its focus on life-threatening tumors, the centre is accepting DD/LD patients, though it is not advertising this service as noted by another writer on this site.