Welcome Betty

You will find lots of information on this site, including clinics in the US treating Dupuytrens with Radiotherapy, and once contracted also NA and Xiaflex, and surgery. The forum additionally has user experiences of the different treatments.

Many cases of Dupuytrens do not lead to functional problems or contraction of the fingers or hand. So the difficulty in making a decision about considering radiotherapy, where there is a tiny tiny tiny risk of cancer, is whether to wait or not. But then if there is contraction it may be too late for radiotherapy at that stage until you've had another treatment to straighten the fingers or hand.

Many surgeons do not advise radiotherapy. This seems to be due to lack of knowledge of this developing field, but it is documented quite well with good rates of perceived success going back 10 - 20 years.

Radiotherapy is only effective on early stage Dupuytrens when the disease is active, as indicated typically by tingling, aching, growth of nodules, changes in the fascia of the hand and so on. As an example, the Professor in Germany, who has the most experience, will not treat Dupuytrens with radiotherapy even if he finds evidence of nodules and cords, unless there are symptoms of active disease.

Explore the site, read more on the forum, ask questions, and best wishes.

Thank you spanishbuddha and Carol Noel. Spanishbuddha, I have a bit of tingling in my fingers, I did not even think that came from the DC, the combo of tendonitis and the trigger finger are enough to drive me crazy. I have to be so careful opening up doors, and carrying grocery bags with my hands. So, I guess, I am within the protocol of the German doctor then.....

Carol Noel, I can not find info on Dr. Kielholz. Do you have a first name, or could you be kind enough to send me some link?

I think, I have found a radiologist that would be able to do RT.

Thank you very much Wolfgang.

I have a question for you.... I am thinking on doing RT on both hands. But, I have not seen any info about, if down the road, if I were to do surgery or NA, or even shots, or whatever else would be available at that time. Would I be able to do surgery on the hands. ????

I am planning on doing RT, but I am also thinking ahead.....

Also any ideas how to pick a Radiologist Oncologist?????

Betty

I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with a new Radiologist Oncologist that is very close to my home.

Last week I went to see a Radiologist, in Miami, and had to drive about 2 1/2 hours one way. She was very knowledgeable with Dupuytren's and knows Prof. Heinrich Seegenschmiedthe. When I asked her how many of these procedures had she done??? Her answer was "NONE" We then drove home, another 2 1/2 hours, and I would have to do that for 5 days. My husband and I decided to see if we could find somebody closet to our home..... You were so right with your answer... We chose vicinity; even though, we felt she was very qualified to do RT, vicinity won.....

As luck would have it, when I spoke on the phone with the new Radiologist, he was acquainted with DC, and told me the amount of radiation that I would be needing, which is what I had read here and what she told me as well..... Thus, the meeting tomorrow. By the way, he is 5 minutes door to door....

I will ask him the same question I asked you about surgery if needed in the future, I am curious what his answer would be.

The New Radiologist told me that I would have to come in days before doing RT to do simulations, have CT scan, in other words, they have to make a plan of action.

Thanks again for this info. Will keep you posted with my meeting tomorrow.

Betty

I fully agree Flojo. Very well said!