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When is it too early for Radiotherapy ?
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08/26/2012 02:16
flojo 
08/26/2012 02:16
flojo 
Re: When is it too early for Radiotherapy ?

Vikingorigins,

Interesting thought. They, whoever "they" is, say it does not work prophylactically.

Does anyone know if there is research on this? Or maybe from knowledge about RT for non-cancerous conditions like Dupuytren's, they know it doesn't work?

08/26/2012 07:49
Lanod 
08/26/2012 07:49
Lanod 
Re: When is it too early for Radiotherapy ?

Vikingorigins,

Yes, there are research results on this. In Prof. Seegenschmiedt's recent sudy (2012), which is a chapter in the recent book on Dupuytrens, he summaries the number of cases of progression for RT treated patients; it does show that RT in early stage DD can be very effective but if progression occurs, it can to occur either within the RT treated area and outside of that area. So - unfortunately - there are no simple rules on this.

Lanod

08/26/2012 15:30
LubaM. 
08/26/2012 15:30
LubaM. 
Re: When is it too early for Radiotherapy ?

At the end of 2009 I had RT on my left foot (2 hard marble-size nodules)... and also on my left hand (no contracture at the time, no visible cords, but lots of nodules and dimples on the entire palm, especially under the ring and pinky fingers). I had definite symptoms of active disease, i.e. constant itching and burning and tightness in the palm of my hand.

Almost 3 years later, the nodules on foot are 90% gone and what remains is much softer. In my hand many of the nodules are gone, some are softer... there are NEW nodules that are definitely outside the radiated area and my pinky has started to contract at the PIP joint. There still are no clearly visible cords, but something (maybe deep inside my palm) is pulling on the pinky finger and making it contract...I guess.

Even with the new nodules on my hand and contracture of the pinky finger, I consider RT successful in stopping the progression of the disease.

Edited 08/26/12 18:32

08/27/2012 13:32
lori 
08/27/2012 13:32
lori 
Re: When is it too early for Radiotherapy ?

It is 3 years since my RT and I have had no new nodules in the treated area of my right hand. In fact I have no nodules that I can detect in either hand. it is as if DD has gone dormant. For me I feel that I had RT at the right time. I had a nodule and a cord was forming. I had the tingling, itching, and pain that has all gone away. I am fortunate that it worked. Determining that it was active was the easy part, my nodule and cord were changing before my eyes. Deciding when to have RT was a more difficult dedcision. It worked for me and I would have Rt again if a new nodule appeared and DD appeared to be active.

Lori

08/27/2012 14:17
callie 
08/27/2012 14:17
callie 
Re: When is it too early for Radiotherapy ?

The difficult part of analyzing Dupuytren's is that the same situation can, and does, happen without RT. My left hand (little finger) had nodules/dimpling and then contracted to over 90 degrees in 18 months. The right hand (little finger) had almost identical dimpling and went totally dormant for over 11 years. Then this year a new nodule developed in the same area and is now active and a cord starting to develop.

08/28/2012 10:10
Larry 
08/28/2012 10:10
Larry 
Re: When is it too early for Radiotherapy ?

DOCUMANTATION is important:

That's why primary careful documentation is so important, either using phography, scanners or copy machine: My hands and feet were early on documented via photocopy with all sketches of nodules and cords marked on the skin. This helps to detect whether disease may occur INSIDE or OUTSIDE the irradiated areas.

In my case I am using this documentation to either compare it with my acrtual status by myself or report back to Prof. Seegenschmiedt in Hamburg who oversees the whole development over years with this method ...

I am sure he can contribute to the knowledge how often NEW NODULES appear inside or outside the irradiated area. Larry

08/29/2012 01:11
Vikingorigins 
08/29/2012 01:11
Vikingorigins 

Re: When is it too early for Radiotherapy ?

Larry, how regularly do you document your hands? Every week ? Month? Quarterly?

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non-treated   progressed   radiosensitive   irradiate   myofibroblasts   nodules   Vikingorigins   examination   recommendation   progression   Radiotherapy   ‘attacked’   condition   Seegenschmiedt   disease   treated   prophylactically   proliferation   consultation   documentation