Lanod:LibaM, if a cord has developed in the irradiated area then this is an unfortunate outcome from your RT treatment which can happen is a small percentage of patients. The objective of the RT treatment is to stop progression of the disease i.e. stop progression of both nodules and cords. When people say that RT is not effective on cords, they imply that RT might not reduce the cord or might not cause the cord to disappear. However, if cords can continue to grow then RT is not effective.
LubaM - would you mind very much clarifying two points:
- what stage was your hand at prior to RT treatment? - what dose/fractions of radiation did you receive?
Many thanks, Lanod
Lanod, From previous posts and discussions on this forum, I had always understood that RT is not successful at treating cords, and is only meant to stop the progression of nodules.
-- Before RT, there was no visible cord in the palm under the pinkie finger. All my fingers were perfectly straight, and the only sign of Dupuytren's in my hand was multiple hard nodules at the base of the fingers, many dimples in the palm and a constant sensation of itching and burning in the palm, also a feeling of tightness .
After RT...the itching and burning completely stopped, I can open my hand much wider, many of the nodules disappeared, the remaining ones are smaller and softer, no new nodules since RT. A cord developed under pinkie (although not visible...must be deep inside) and started to bend pinkie at PIP joint.
-- Dosage used was 2 Gy per treatment. 10 treatments in two consecutive weeks for a total of 20 Gys.
Pleased to report completed first round of RT yesterday in Waterbury , CT. A breeze, so now we wait for 2nd round. No side effects yet, but will report if/when. I have attached a photo for those out there who are considering RT, and have no visual concept of the treatment.
Interesting, the different techniques. I stood up for my RT and just laid the hand out on the support. I had my whole palm exposed to the upper joint (DIP) on my fingers. I did notice a very little dryness of my palm after about three weeks and that is all. I go for my second round in five weeks.
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