Alan -

Why have you selected radiation in preference to NA? The figures you quoted are about 30-fold what NA costs and I believe there is considerably less data on the efficacy of radiation in treating Dupuytren's.

Steve Abrams

Professor Seegenschmiedt has more experience than everyone else combined in terms of XRT for Dupuytren's and he recommend either 6 treatments over a 2-week period (every other day at lower dosage for 6 treatments) or better 5 treatments done daily with a 60 day period for the body to recover from the radiation (which it will do) and then a second round of 5 treatments.

I had my XRT done at his clinic in Essen Germany and the cost for both hands for the first round of treatments was 400 euros. I had the second round done in San Francisco and the hospital charged $8000 of which my Blue Cross insurance covered $6000 and the rest I had to pay.

No one really knows if the lower dosage approach is going to be as effective and the cost is going to be roughly the same either way you decide to go. I would highly recommend that you have the XRT done as soon as possible as it seems to arrest the disease at whatever stage it is at the time of the treatment.

Wolfgang,

I do not have any contracture at this point...(table top with arm at about 45deg can still raise fingers off the table, all fingers straight), but I'm unsure on the issue of cords. I do show dimpling in my palm that has increased over the last 6-9months. The three nodules I could identify are now harder to identify singly....ie is this a cord? As with most of the people I have read about, the hand doctor that first looked at my hand last month wants me to wait until surgery is needed....

I'm really trying to narrow down the radiation option quickly as I believe I'm quickly running out of time if not already.

Alan

Hi ,alan texas. Australia Calling/Adelaide. Did you know both Adelaide and Austin are sister cities .With regards to Rt I have had radiotherapy in Essen Germany on both hands and feet after many surgeries.The one thing is that Prof. Seegenschmiedt does not irradiate the whole hand but is selective in treating only the area where the nodules are. He is running side by side trials ,either the protocol of 7X3 Gy, or two sessions of 5X3 Gy with treatment administered on the second session ,being anything up to 6 months apart. He is evaluating the two to asses the lowest dose rate of RT. In the US, some protocol has been up to 60 Gy.In my case I only had 15 Gy on one hand to stop the progression. The secret seems to be to attack early and certainly before contraction. You made mention of the table top test . The protocol of the table top test is to rest the back of the hand on the table top (not the palm ) and with the hand outstretched your finger nails touch the surface .I had my first Rt in Sept 07 and so far am happy with the results. Finally I did not see you age mentioned. I personally would not have RT under 40 Yrs of age. Food for thought.Finally my cost was 3000 euros.However I had 2 separate areas treated on both hands and both feet with and addition of 2 extra treatments on one foot. Regards

Edited 05/01/09 13:03

It will be two years in June 2009, since I received RT in Erlangen Germany. The total cost was 500 Euros for a series of two (2) treatments for both hands and feet. The size of the nodules and the pain in my feet reduced by 95%. Of two nodules in my right hand, one reduced and the other has grown, but remains soft. The nodule on my left index finger reduced in size, no longer swells, and is pain free. My treatment in Germany was a positive experience and since I can now walk without pain, successful. In addition to obtaining treatment from more qualified doctors (in my opinion), the cost of a trip to Germany and the treatment is less expensive than having treatment in the USA. I recommend Germany for RT!

Diane