What Happens After Radiotherapy Treatment?
What side-effects should I expect in the weeks after radiotherapy treatment? Radiotherapy treatment may cause mild redness, soreness and dryness of the skin in the targeted area. This tends to start about 2-3 weeks after each phase (week) of treatment. Rarely, the skin may crack, weep or swell up. In the majority of cases, these […]
Repeating Radiotherapy For Early Dupuytren’s & Ledderhose Disease
This blog post discusses whether repeating radiotherapy for Dupuytren’s or Ledderhose disease should be done. I have tried to keep in mind the overriding principle of “first do no harm”, while allowing re-irradiation in certain defined circumstances. This post is aimed both towards patients and radiation oncologists. Radiotherapy is effective at the prevention of contracture […]
Radiotherapy Treatment For The Complex Hand
This blog post is how to treat patients with radiotherapy for Dupuytren’s disease who do not strictly fit the NICE guidelines. Such documents aim to simplify reality by fitting each patient into a clearly defined category. In particular, the guidelines state that radiotherapy can be used for patients with early Dupuytren’s disease (i.e. where there […]
Radiotherapy Treatment: Electrons vs X-rays
I’ve been asked many times about the difference between electrons and superficial X-rays when we use radiotherapy treatment for Dupuytren’s and Ledderhose disease. I have therefore written this blog post to write about how they both work, with particular notes on the similarities and differences between them. Fundamentally, how does radiotherapy affect tissues? Tissue is made up […]
When is it too early for Radiotherapy for Dupuytren’s disease?
Radiotherapy is effective in “early progressive disease”. To explain what this means: “Disease” means that there is a confirmed diagnosis of Dupuytren’s disease i.e. that you have nodules with or without cords and skin retraction (dimpling) and that this has been confirmed as Dupuytren’s disease by a suitably qualified and experienced doctor, for instance a […]
Case Study: Mike
Fifty-four-year-old Mike wasn’t particularly concerned about a small, hard lump near the third finger of his right hand. However, when it started to become more noticeable, he mentioned it to his GP and discovered that he had Dupuytren’s disease and was told there was no treatment available unless the condition progressed to full Dupuytren’s contracture. […]
Case Study: Gary
With a degree in molecular genetics, 22-year-old Gary was looking forward to starting a PhD with the ultimate dream of a job in cancer research. But increasing pain and its debilitating effect from a small bump on the arch of his foot began to severely impact Gary’s life, both physically and emotionally, leaving him reliant […]
Case Study: Adrian
Fifty-three-year-old automation engineer Adrian didn’t know what the small lumps on his hands were until he researched the symptoms on the internet. As soon as Google revealed pages of information on Dupuytren’s, Adrian remembered his father having Dupuytren’s contracture, who, despite undergoing two operations, was left with limited movement in both hands. Until this point, […]
Case Study: Carolyn
Carolyn wrote about her recent experience of having radiotherapy to treat Ledderhose Disease at our centre in Southampton. Read her story here: When Carolyn from Bristol offered to write about her recent experience of having radiotherapy to treat Ledderhose Disease, we were very grateful for her contribution. We hope other sufferers will find her story […]
Case Study: Mary
In late 2014, Mary noticed that a lump had appeared in the palm of her right hand. By the end of December the lump was causing her a lot more concern. The lump was becoming much tenderer to the touch and she was having problems doing day-to-day activities around the house. This is her story. […]