Thank you, chewie! I hope your RT went well. I've thought of you often. Thanks, too, for the Facebook link. I look forward to looking at it.

Hi bdiamond,

welcome to the club and to our forum! I myself had mý first RT about 30-35 years ago and that finger is still fine. The skin became a little drier in the irradiated area but now, after so long, you can't tell a difference anymore.

Why don't you just ask Dr. Kavanaugh to also have a look at your feet? Many doctors are just inspecting the hand(s) because that's where the disease is most frequent but, of course, it makes sesne to also check the feet.

Wolfgang

bdiamond:

---

Hi all...Im newly diagnosed with Dupuytren...meaning today...lol. Actually I self diagnosed about 2-3 weeks ago, but saw the hand surgeon today. Not impressed but not surprised. He suggested I wait until I have disability and then will do injections and maybe surgery down the road. He was not familiar with radiation except that it was "new" and data was too new to know about long-term outcomes. Well...I work in the nursing/medical field (so understand the limitations of early interventions) and being a BRCA+ person who went thru mastectomy and hysterectomy to prevent cancer...a little radiation to save the use of my right hand seemed like an obvious "GO FOR IT" kind of treatment. I know this post is old...but Im hoping maybe you guys still get messages. I was wandering how you guys are doing now a few years out from radiation. I spoke with a radiologist I work with who recommended Dr. Kavanaugh...so I was excited to see that in fact many of you had seen him at some point. I have a referral in and Im hoping to see him in the next coupe weeks so I can hopefully start RT sooner than later. The cord in my hand started only a few months ago, but I feel like it is progressing quickly...although maybe Im just obsessed with it now. Not sure if I have other small ones starting, I hadnt really thought about checking. But I was wandering does Dr. Kavanaugh inspect both hands and feet? The surgeon barely did an exam of the right hand, and certainly never asked about my feet :)

Thanks

also, to answer the other part of your question: My feet did very well with radiation and are stable and pain free. My right hand worsened in the last year, developing more cords and contractions. Perhaps the radiation slowed the progression, but it's hard to know. I just had Xiaflex injections recently and am in physical therapy.

susie:

---

I had my follow-up visit with Dr. King in Grand Junction, Colorado today, 5 months after RT for both feet and my right hand. I am doing incredibly well. I have a very physical occupation where I use my hands and stand on my feet all day. I was worried about losing function in my feet and hands.
My hope was to just stop the rapid progression of the disease, but it seems I'm getting better results than I expected. I no longer have pain in my feet and the nodules are softening in both feet and my hand.
I feel positive about my experience and I'm glad I went through with the treatment. Dr. King is so caring and knowledgeable. And the staff is wonderful.
If anyone lives on the western side of the state of Colorado and is in need of RT, please feel free to contact me. I'm happy to refer you and give you support.
All the best to everyone.
Susie