An interesting (and depressing) study was conducted over a 15 year period showing cancer deaths to be statistically significant in people with stage 2 or greater DC. It was published in a medical journal in the UK. (see below)
I would assume that the presence of DC already indicates that your immune system is on the fritz (I'm not a doctor and "on the fritz" is not a medical term ;-) Kristen

Increased total mortality and cancer mortality in men with Dupuytren's disease: a 15-year follow-up study.
Gudmundsson Kristjan G; Arngrimsson Reynir; Sigfusson Nikulas; Jonsson
Thorbjorn
The Health Care Centre, Fludabakka 6, 540, Blonduos, Iceland.
kristgud@HNLfi.is
Journal of clinical epidemiology (England) Jan 2002, 55 (1) p5-10,
ISSN 0895-4356 Journal Code: 8801383
Document type: Journal Article
Languages: ENGLISH
Main Citation Owner: NLM
Record type: Completed
Subfile: INDEX MEDICUS
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mortality rate and
causes of death of individuals with Dupuytren's disease. In 1981/82, as
part of The Reykjavik Study, a general health survey, 1297 males were
examined for clinical signs of Dupuytren's disease. Based on the clinical
evaluation the participants were classified into three groups: (1) those
with no signs of Dupuytren's disease were referred to as the reference
cohort; (2) those with palpable nodules in the palmar fascia were
classified as having stage 1; and (3) those who had contracted fingers or
had been operated on due to contractures were classified as having stage 2
of Dupuytren's disease. In 1997, after a 15- year follow-up period, the
mortality rate and causes of death were investigated in relation to the
clinical findings from 1981/82. Information about causes of death were
obtained from the National Icelandic Death Registry and the Icelandic
Cancer Registry. During the follow-up period, 21.5% (225/1048) of the
reference cohort were deceased compared to 29.9% (55/184) of those with
stage 1 and 47.7% (31/65) of those with stage 2 of Dupuytren's disease.
When adjusted for age, smoking habits and other possible confounders,
individuals with stage 2 of the disease showed increased total mortality
[hazard ratio (HR) = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.4]. Cancer deaths were increased (HR
= 1.9; CI 1.0-3.6). In contrast, participants with stage 1 of Dupuytren's
disease did not show increased mortality. A moderate but non-significant
increase in cancer incidence was observed among individuals with stage 2 of
Dupuytren's disease (HR = 1.5; 95% CI 0.9-2.4, P = 0.15). The study showed
increased total mortality of individuals with Dupuytren's disease stage 2,
where 42% of the excess in mortality could be attributed to cancer deaths.
Tags: Human; Male; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Descriptors: *Cause of Death; *Dupuytren's Contracture--mortality--MO;
*Neoplasms--mortality--MO; Aged; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology);
Dupuytren's Contracture--complications--CO; Dupuytren's Contracture
--epidemiology--EP; Follow-Up Studies; Iceland--epidemiology--EP; Middle
Aged; Neoplasms--complications--CO; Prevalence; Registries; Risk Factors;
Smoking--adverse effects--AE

LET'S SEE, I DONT SMOKE, DONT HAVE DIABETES, DONT HAVE CANCER,I DON'T THINK I HAVE ALZIEMERS!!(?)AND ONLY DRINK EVERY NOW AND THEN, I'M AT A STAGE 4 AND A HALF SAYS MY THERAPIST FOR MY HAND,
(OF STAGES 1-4,,,, 4 BEING THE WORST), OH AND NO SWEEDISH IN THE FAMILY. SOO, WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED MY D.C.?
AND IM 40 SOMETHING.

just curious about life expectancy research...any correlation between shortened life expectancy in females with DC ? studies quoted referred to amles i believe.

Michael,
I agree with you that there is still the impression that there could be correlating factors between DC and cancer. I thought (page 36) that their "explanation for the pattern of different cancers in patients with DC could be dietary factors, especially antioxidants. Oxidative stress has been associated with DC, as well as with the development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In our study of cancer incidence in patients operated for DC, we observed that gastric and colorectal cancers occurred more frequently than expected, as did cancers of the breast and prostate."