Hello All,

I haven't posted in a couple of years but I am planning on re-introducing myself and explaining my situation and story so far, very soon.

Currently I am undergoing radiotherapy treatment in the UK. I have had 4 session so far, Monday - Thursday. However today I was informed that the machine was broken and wouldn't be repaired until Monday. So I would have to wait until then for my final session.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this before and whether it can affect the outcome in any way.

Thanks in advance
Teadog

Dear "teadog"

Do not worry about a "Missed Radiotherapy Session" ! This happens all over in the world and rarely affects the treatment outcome of patients as long as they will receive the full prescribed dose of 2 RT series of each 15 Gy up to a total of 30Gy.

The effects of radiotherapy on active fibroblasts , which are the driving force of disease progression in Dupuytren & Ledderhose Disease, are independent of a precise timetable. For practical reasons the dose is usually split up over a longer period of time of about 3 months. The most applied treatment concept is that of 10 x 3Gy in two RT-series of each 5 x 3Gy up to 15Gy per RT-series within 12 weeks. However, in former times other RT-concepts with 2 x 4Gy every 4 weeks up to a total dose of 32 Gy were also successfully applied. In contrast, RT-concepts with 10 x 2Gy were less successful.

It appears, that not all "active fibroblasts" are equally sensitive for ionizing radiation on every day; those which are most sensitive are fibroblasts undergoing the mitosis phase, when they divide and become two cells; the least sensitive fibroblasts are those in the "dormant stage". For that reason the radiation dose is spread out over a longer period of time.

In summary, there is no problem to receive one fraction of the planned RT doses delayed by 72 hours !

Wish you good success with your radiation treatment. Prof. Seegenschmiedt

Prof.Seegenschmiedt:

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Dear "teadog"

Do not worry about a "Missed Radiotherapy Session" ! This happens all over in the world and rarely affects the treatment outcome of patients as long as they will receive the full prescribed dose of 2 RT series of each 15 Gy up to a total of 30Gy.

The effects of radiotherapy on active fibroblasts , which are the driving force of disease progression in Dupuytren & Ledderhose Disease, are independent of a precise timetable. For practical reasons the dose is usually split up over a longer period of time of about 3 months. The most applied treatment concept is that of 10 x 3Gy in two RT-series of each 5 x 3Gy up to 15Gy per RT-series within 12 weeks. However, in former times other RT-concepts with 2 x 4Gy every 4 weeks up to a total dose of 32 Gy were also successfully applied. In contrast, RT-concepts with 10 x 2Gy were less successful.

It appears, that not all "active fibroblasts" are equally sensitive for ionizing radiation on every day; those which are most sensitive are fibroblasts undergoing the mitosis phase, when they divide and become two cells; the least sensitive fibroblasts are those in the "dormant stage". For that reason the radiation dose is spread out over a longer period of time.

In summary, there is no problem to receive one fraction of the planned RT doses delayed by 72 hours !

Wish you good success with your radiation treatment. Prof. Seegenschmiedt