I am starting my second round of radiation treatment in Portland, Oregon. I was diagnosed with Dupuytren's Contracture in my little finger on my right hand in September of 2011. The hand surgeon removed what he thought was a large cell tumor that turned out to be DC. Unfortunately, it was in the PIP joint, and I doubt that the contracture will ever disappear. Then in February of 2012, 2 new nodes started growing in my right palm. So far there is no contracture, but I decided that radiation treatment was my best option to try to hallt his crippling "condition". I found Dr. Christine Cha at the Oregon Clinic: Radiation Oncology Department to do the RT. She is familiar with DC and has done this RT before. Her phone number is 503-215-6029. My insurance (BCBS) is covering the treatment. She had me see Dr. Kline in Boise, Idaho for evaluation before treatment. He discovered DC in my left hand so Dr. Cha treated both hands. About 4 weeks after the first radiation treatment, another node started growing on my left index finger at the PIP joint and outside the area that was radiated. If anyone needs more information about Dr. Cha or Dr. Kline, I would be happy to correspond with you through this forum. I relied on this website to make my decisions and want to thank everyone who writes here. I have read so many of your stories. I am not your "typical" DC sufferer, I am female in my late 50s.

RetiredTeacher - I meant your left index finger rather than the fifth finger. It is a bit unusual to geta nodule on the PIP here on the index finger, so you need a good review.

Best wishes.

Lanod:

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Hello RetiredTeacher,

Sorry to learn that you are experiencing such progression right now. I wish you well in your second round RT. You will get your best advice from your doctors. However, can I suggest that you discuss with your RT doctor the possibility of having your left hand fifth finger (less top third of finger) included in the second round RT. In this way your little finger gets a first round of RT. This finger can then get a seond round, say 12 weeks later. Also, since your condition is so active right now you should ask the doctor to carefully palpate both hands again (and both feet as well!).
Good luck for Tuesday!

Lanod

Larry:

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YOU SHOULD GET AN APPROPRIATE EXAMINATION ...

Make a sketch or a phgotograph of your documented and your RT treatment area to compare to begin with ...

It sounds strange to me that the doctors palpated but discovered not the disease which showed up very soon after your first treatment round ...

WAS THE RADIATION DOSE and SCHEDULE ok ??

callie:

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retired teacher,

Did Dr. Cha need you to see Dr. Kline before the treatment or was it optional? I have an appointment with Dr. Cha, but they didn't say anything about a consultation with another Dr.

It is interesting that Dr. Cha's office said that my insurance would cover the procedure and the Dr. that I went to 3 months ago was denied by the same insurance company.