I diagnosed myself (with the aid of a good friend) with Dupytren's just over six months ago. Since then, I've been struggling to find someone who will give me radiotherapy in the UK and watching my hand get worse.

Today, I'm going to see a radiotherapist at Poole hospital - if he treats me, I'll post details for others. I think he will be willing as he was interested when we spoke a couple of weeks ago.

However, what worries me is that is that I'm not sure what stage my disease is in. My left hand has just a few small nodules - definitely a case for radiotherapy. My right hand has already suffered a degree of contracture (which is extrememly frustration as there was no contracture when I first worked out what the lumps on my hand were). I've lost about 10 degrees of movement, which would seem to make this hand borderline for successful radiotherapy.

However, I'm hypermobile and a loss of 10 degrees for me still means that I can bend my fingers backwards by around 20 degrees when my hand is placed flat on a table.

Is the degree of contracture measured from the original flexilility of the hand, or is it contracture from a hand with all the fingers held in a straight line with the palm?

If it is the latter, then I may have a lot less to worry about.

The radiotherapist will be using the dosage recommeneded on your web site. (as electrons)

He's starting treatment on Monday.

I think I was lucky to find a radiotherapist who is already used to treating non-malignant growths with radiotherapy.

If the treatments prevents further progression of the disease, then I will be happy. I haven't lost much use in my right hand yet and the cords have not yet started in my left.

My main concern was where I fell in the treatment categories - whether I count as N or N/I or I. Success depends on the stage you are at when treatment starts. My left hand is definitely N, so I have good expectations there. Depending on how the contracture is measured, I am either N/I or I with my right hand. If I am I, then the treatment only has a low chance of success. If I'm N/I, then the prospects are still good and the disease progression may be halted.

Yes, Poole, Dorset, UK.

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Hi from down under .To monitor any contracture simply place your hand on a flat table whilst being seated, with the palm facing upwards and fingers outstretched ,with the use of a ruler or micrometer record the measurement from the table surface to the area on the finger above the finger nail. Ideally all finger nails will be in contact with the surface of the table. Hope this may help. Adelaide .South Australia.

I thought contracture was normally measured in degrees, not as a linear measurement?

Still, if it is done from a flat position, then I'm in with a good chance as I can still hold the hand flat back on a table.