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RT under 40
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10/26/2013 12:07
humana 
10/26/2013 12:07
humana 
RT under 40

Has anyone had radiation therapy in their 30's or 20's? The feeling I get from this forum is the benefit from radiation far out weighs the risks from radiation. I am a radiation worker and explain the risk vs benefit multiple times a day to my patients for diagnostic images. The radiation dose from a life time of mammograms/x-rays is miniscule compared to the dose from radiation therapy. There is a theoretical risk for diagnostic tests but a measured risk for radiation therapy. This was echoed to me at my appointment with a radiation oncologist.
Since I have cords not nodules, I agree with the risk far out weighs the benefit in my case.
Maybe in 20 years when I'm in my 50's the risks would be less scary.

Edited 10/26/13 17:55

10/26/2013 22:09
Jolene 
10/26/2013 22:09
Jolene 
Re: RT under 40

I take it you have Dup not ledderhose?
I have a friend who is in his 20's he opted for RT on his foot. he is very happy he did this.
Check out his story

http://ledderhose.blogspot.com/p/patient-interviews.html

10/27/2013 07:32
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

10/27/2013 07:32
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

Re: RT under 40

humana:
Has anyone had radiation therapy in their 30's or 20's? The feeling I get from this forum is the benefit from radiation far out weighs the risks from radiation. I am a radiation worker and explain the risk vs benefit multiple times a day to my patients for diagnostic images. The radiation dose from a life time of mammograms/x-rays is miniscule compared to the dose from radiation therapy. There is a theoretical risk for diagnostic tests but a measured risk for radiation therapy. This was echoed to me at my appointment with a radiation oncologist.
Since I have cords not nodules, I agree with the risk far out weighs the benefit in my case.
Maybe in 20 years when I'm in my 50's the risks would be less scary.
Whilst I don't have the knowledge or training you have I wonder if your thinking is comparing like for like? The treatment for DD or LD has differences compared to treatment for cancer, a lower dose, depth is minimised, and targeting the extremities reduces the possible impact further. The society has made an effort to calculate the risk, see http://www.dupuytren-online.de/downloads...20Dupuytren.htm on which knowledgeable comments would be appreciated.

But as you say there is guidance is to avoid giving RT to younger patients in their 20's and 30's, maybe early 40's, unless the benefits to be gained of an improvement in pain and life style are significant. We would expect a radiologist to give the right advice for a patients consideration under the circumstances.

10/31/2013 04:11
stephenp 
10/31/2013 04:11
stephenp 
Re: RT under 40

I am in my 60s so was concerned but upon analysis, came to the conclusion that there was only a marginal increase in risk of inducing cancer following RT. For a young person, especially one who depends on their hands to make a living eg dentistry, I feel the the potential benefits far outweighs the risk. As indicated above this is discussed elsewhere on this site and on this forum.

11/02/2013 07:50
humana 
11/02/2013 07:50
humana 
Re: RT under 40

I think I'm having problems understanding this statement on the RT page:
"In radiation therapy, the nodules and cords associated with Dupuytren's are irradiated from a distance of .5 - 1 cm either with X-Rays (e.g. 120 kV = soft X-Rays that do not penetrate deeply into the body) or with electrons (3 - 10 MeV)."

Diagnositic imaging utalizes different kVp (kilovoltage peak - indicating the highest energy in a beam arrray) starting with 25 kVp for mammograms upto 125 kVp for chest xrays. At 125 kV most x-rays are passing through the chest at 72". How can you call 120 kV at a distance of 1 cm soft x-rays??

11/02/2013 14:15
Lanod 
11/02/2013 14:15
Lanod 
Re: RT under 40

The term ‘Soft X-ray’ is a technical term that relates to the wavelengths for X-rays; where the spectrum range for X-rays is some 0.1 to 200 angstroms, with soft X-rays being defined in the range of between 20 and 200 angstroms. For X-ray radiotherapy treatment the target depth can be defined in the centimeter range. If you are quoting very deep penetration you are probably referring to diagnostic X-ray equipment which is concerned with very different principles and dosages to that of therapeutic X-rays for radiotherapy. Today, electron beam equipment is replacing X-ray technologies. The electron beam equipment is more expensive but gives tighter control on depth etc.

11/03/2013 09:30
wach 

Administrator

11/03/2013 09:30
wach 

Administrator

Re: RT under 40

Thank you for indicating this potential misunderstanding. X-rays with up to 50 kV are typically called "soft" while up to 250kV already would be considered "medium", beyond that "hard" and "ultra-hard". We have modified the text on our webpage.

Wolfgang

humana:
I think I'm having problems understanding this statement on the RT page:
"In radiation therapy, the nodules and cords associated with Dupuytren's are irradiated from a distance of .5 - 1 cm either with X-Rays (e.g. 120 kV = soft X-Rays that do not penetrate deeply into the body) or with electrons (3 - 10 MeV)."

Diagnositic imaging utalizes different kVp (kilovoltage peak - indicating the highest energy in a beam arrray) starting with 25 kVp for mammograms upto 125 kVp for chest xrays. At 125 kV most x-rays are passing through the chest at 72". How can you call 120 kV at a distance of 1 cm soft x-rays??

11/04/2013 16:23
Fredsabato 
11/04/2013 16:23
Fredsabato 
Re: RT under 40

If you really have DD you better get RT before your hand contracts, or you will be sorry you didn't. Once the hand contracts you will have real heartache, believe me, I work with a dude that had surgery, it wasn't pretty, that was why I freaked out when I found out I had DD. I had RT done and it worked, thank God, at Scripps Radiation Center, La Jolla, CA, Dr. T.

Fred

11/04/2013 17:48
humana 
11/04/2013 17:48
humana 
Re: RT under 40

Fredsabato:
If you really have DD you better get RT before your hand contracts, or you will be sorry you didn't. Once the hand contracts you will have real heartache, believe me, I work with a dude that had surgery, it wasn't pretty, that was why I freaked out when I found out I had DD.

Here lies the problem, I am contracted. Hence the risks outweighs the benefits in my case.

Edited 11/04/13 19:50

11/04/2013 20:06
newman 
11/04/2013 20:06
newman 

Re: RT under 40

Hi RT is only beneficial on nodules in the early stage. Not on cord. PNF or NA is your next option . I noted some on the forum have had RT after NA.

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