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Radiation therapy in New Zealand
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09/23/2008 01:02
kiwideb 
09/23/2008 01:02
kiwideb 
Radiation therapy in New Zealand

Hi,

I have been reading the Dupuytren Society website and this forum ever since I googled "lump in palm of hand" back in January after noticing something unusual happening in my right hand. My thanks to those who have gone before and shared their knowledge and experiences.

I finally got to my GP several months later after having read the literature about radiation therapy and asked for a referral to a radiation oncologist. My GP believed that there wasn't a facility that would treat DC in New Zealand and so I began to pursue options in Australia. I had positive responses from both Perth Radiation Oncology and Greg Wheeler at Peter Mac in Melbourne, but both believed it should be possible to get treatment closer to home. That spurred me to do a bit of digging on this side of the Tasman and so I rang up one of the Radiation Oncologists at the Regional Cancer Centre at Waikato Hospital. She promised me an appointment with one of the doctors and advised me to come armed with the evidence. When I arrived for my appointment with Dr. Charles De Groot a few weeks later, I was thrilled to see the Seegenschmiedt et al study up on his computer!

Dr. De Groot decided that the more conservative treatment protocol outlined in the study (7 x 3Gy treatments) was the best way to proceed and I have now had 5 of the seven sessions required. No noticeable side effects so far and really only minor skin dryness, although I have been using LOTS of aqueous cream.

I am extraordinarily grateful that I have been given the opportunity to receive this treatment on home turf and everyone over at Waikato Hospital has been wonderful. I just wanted to alert other Kiwis that radiation treatment is available, even though most GPs will be unaware.

Cheers,
Deb

09/23/2008 19:54
TrevB 
09/23/2008 19:54
TrevB 

Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

Quote:



Dr. De Groot decided that the more conservative treatment protocol outlined in the study (7 x 3Gy treatments) was the best way to proceed and I have now had 5 of the seven sessions required. No noticeable side effects so far and really only minor skin dryness, although I have been using LOTS of aqueous cream.



I'm hoping to get radiotherapy in the UK before my Dups progresses much further and I discussed with my GP that I thought 30Gy was quite a high dose? He said that I'd need to ask how that compares to dosage from other sources or for other treatments. I'm not sure that I'd get that much time during an NHS appointment so I'm quite concerned that a doctor thinks the low dose option is best.

Cambidgeshire, UK.

09/24/2008 06:33
Wolfgang

not registered

09/24/2008 06:33
Wolfgang

not registered

Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

Segenschmiedt and his team have recently (e.g. at ASSH 2006) published that there is not much difference in the results when using 21 or 30 Gy, see e.g. http://www.dupuytren-online.info/ASSH_20...files/frame.htm . Seegenschmiedt's results are for x-rays at 150 kV, other treatments might differ. Nevertheless, many clinics still use 30 Gy.

Wolfgang

Quote:


I'm hoping to get radiotherapy in the UK before my Dups progresses much further and I discussed with my GP that I thought 30Gy was quite a high dose? He said that I'd need to ask how that compares to dosage from other sources or for other treatments. I'm not sure that I'd get that much time during an NHS appointment so I'm quite concerned that a doctor thinks the low dose option is best.

Cambidgeshire, UK.


09/24/2008 08:02
TrevB 
09/24/2008 08:02
TrevB 

Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

So as opinion seems divided on the safety of this therapy, it surely makes sense to use the least possible?

Gy and low dose really don't mean that much to me and I'd hope that the specialist would take the potentially safest course of action

Cambidgeshire, UK.

11/08/2010 01:55
warwick 
11/08/2010 01:55
warwick 
Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

kiwideb:
That spurred me to do a bit of digging on this side of the Tasman and so I rang up one of the Radiation Oncologists at the Regional Cancer Centre at Waikato Hospital. She promised me an appointment with one of the doctors and advised me to come armed with the evidence. When I arrived for my appointment with Dr. Charles De Groot ...

Hi Deb,

At least I hope you get this message :) I've just been diagnosed (early stages) and am based in Wellington, NZ. Can you tell me if you had problems with waiting lists to get treated? I'm also interested in whether you had a referral for this from your GP - was it covered under ACC or was it only available privately etc.

I hope you don't mind me asking - it's just I'm (obviously) keen to get some idea of what I'm up against as soon as possible, from a bureaucracy as well as a medical point of view. I hope the treatment is still proving beneficial for you.

Cheers,
Warwick./

10/13/2013 22:17
BrianHardaker 
10/13/2013 22:17
BrianHardaker 
Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

Hi I know the previous post are a bit old now but I have recently been diagnoised as having Dupuytrens in my left hand. It is still quite small & after contacting the medical group in Hamilton that treat this they mentioned that is also available at Christchurch Hospital.

My doctor didn't know of this and is alerting his patients but I thought some of you others out there would like to know it can also be done here in Christchurch. I still don't have an appointment yet and so cannot comment on anything other than it is available.

I intend to post more once I know more.

All the best
Brian

Edited 10/14/13 01:18

10/14/2013 07:24
GaryBall 
10/14/2013 07:24
GaryBall 
Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

BrianHardaker:
Hi I know the previous post are a bit old now but I have recently been diagnoised as having Dupuytrens in my left hand. It is still quite small & after contacting the medical group in Hamilton that treat this they mentioned that is also available at Christchurch Hospital.

My doctor didn't know of this and is alerting his patients but I thought some of you others out there would like to know it can also be done here in Christchurch. I still don't have an appointment yet and so cannot comment on anything other than it is available.

I intend to post more once I know more.

All the best
Brian


Thanks for that Brian.....please keep us kiwis in the loop with any news....

Cheers

Gazza

11/08/2013 21:26
kassie 
11/08/2013 21:26
kassie 
Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

Hi Thank you to all who posted here, i learned a lot. I was diagnosed earlier this year (2013), learnt about Dr van der Groot in Hamilton from the postings here. I received a very polite and encouarging answer from the Waikato DHB, but the bottom line was - i needed a referral from my own DHB (i live in Auckland) first, and my GP was very pessimistic about the process and reluctant to start it. So I dug a bit more and found that Professor Benjamin has started doing RT recently, at the Auckland Hospital. As I said my GP did not know know anything about the RT treatment at all, i was supplying all the information. Luckily she had heqard about the Professor and agreed to write a referral. I have had two sessions so far (at Auckland Hospital), 5 more to go. No negative effects. No positive ones either although yesterday i had the feeling that there was less tension in the palm. Early days yet, I will write again to report on the outcomes. (I also found out that while my insurance with Southern Cross would cover surgical treatment it would not cover RT).

Edited 11/09/13 00:30

11/08/2013 21:34
callie 
11/08/2013 21:34
callie 
Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

While I realize you aren't in the U.S., this bulletin from Aetna Insurance carries a lot of weight when it comes to getting insurance coverage.

http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/800_899/0800.html

11/08/2013 22:36
kassie 
11/08/2013 22:36
kassie 
Re: Radiation therapy in New Zealand

Hi Callie thanks. The insurer I mentioned may change the policy in the future. I do not want to sound negative but in my experience they are always glad have a reason to say no. Luckliy we do have good public hospitals, too.

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