My name is Craig Scott and ten months ago I realized that something was wrong with my left hand, I had a lump in my palm area and my ring and pinky finger had started to contract,my fingers felt very stiff and my hand hurt. I made a visit to a plastic surgeon here who also is a hand specialist and he diagnosed it as DP. When I asked what I should do he recommended leaving the hand alone and when full contracture occurred then I had a choice of injections or surgery and that both of these procedures would be necessary at later times for the rest of my life as the disease is reoccurring. I next visited an Orthopedic Surgeon and was also diagnosed as having DP and also was told the same prognosis and treatments. This is when I started researching the condition online and found this forum and read other people's experiences. I came to realize that radiation therapy might be a way to go. I live on a small island in the Caribbean where the healthcare and hospital might kill you so I researched where to go for treatment in the states. I found that Ackerman Cancer Center in Jacksonville Florida had experience in treating this disease and I made an appointment. Upon arrival at Ackerman I underwent an MRI of my hand and immediately started a five day radiation treatment, and also scheduled the recommended second five day treatment for two months later. I cannot believe the difference in my hand. After the first treatment the daily pain,stiffness, and slight contracture started to abate. A few weeks ago I completed the second round of radiation treatments ( both times daily radiation treatments were only roughly 1-2 minutes in duration with no noticeable side effects) and the nodule on my palm is now decreasing in size and the hand pain and stiffness along with the slight contracture is totally gone. IF YOU HAVE DP DO NOT WAIT TO BE TREATED And do not listen to doctors who are not up to date on treating this disease. My Medicare covered almost the entire bill and even without Medicare the cost for treatment was not expensive. Also I cannot give enough praises and thanks to the staff at Ackerman Cancer Center, their expertise is fantastic and the concern and compassion and professionalism that everybody at this facility has for their patients is phenomenal. Doctor Ackerman gave me (as he does every patient)his personal cellphone number and he tells you to call him anytime day or night if you have a problem or a concern, and he really means it. I thank god for leading me to this website and I praise the good work the people who run this site are doing. I am making a donation to them today.

GLAD YOU HAD GREAT RESULTS!! I MEET WITH RO ON TUESDAY. STARTING TREATMENT SOON, I HOPE WITH GOOD RESULTS.