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NICE Guidelines now include radiotherapy for Dupuytren's
It's taken time, but radiation treatment for Dupuytren's Contracture is now recognised by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) as a valid treatment. This improves the chance of people in the UK being able to get it as a treatment.
Dupuytren's affects around 2 million people in the UK and can leave the hands badly clawed and unable to function properly if it progresses.
Amazingly, there was a surprisingly accurate article in the Daily Mail (Normally, I wouldn't trust anything they have to say regarding health - though I notice they've quoted a study with a particularly high success rate). As the treatment is cheaper and less invasive than the alternatives and is preventative rather than curative, it does have an awful lot going for it.
I'm one of the successes - my hands are still fine several years after treatment and I had no problems with side-effects.
The NICE guidelines (which include figures for both side-effects and success rate) are here. (though you have to bear in mind that in around 10% of cases, the disease would not develop further even if left untreated.)
Basically, if you find you have small lumps on your palm (at about the same point where you get calluses when carrying a suitcase), or your fingers won't straighten properly, then you may have Dupuytren's Contracture. If you are male, over 50, Northern European ancestry and diabetic, then you have quite high odds of being a sufferer.
(But I'm female, not diabetic and was under 50 when diagnosed, so don't assume you have to fit that pattern.)
Dupuytren's affects around 2 million people in the UK and can leave the hands badly clawed and unable to function properly if it progresses.
Amazingly, there was a surprisingly accurate article in the Daily Mail (Normally, I wouldn't trust anything they have to say regarding health - though I notice they've quoted a study with a particularly high success rate). As the treatment is cheaper and less invasive than the alternatives and is preventative rather than curative, it does have an awful lot going for it.
I'm one of the successes - my hands are still fine several years after treatment and I had no problems with side-effects.
The NICE guidelines (which include figures for both side-effects and success rate) are here. (though you have to bear in mind that in around 10% of cases, the disease would not develop further even if left untreated.)
Basically, if you find you have small lumps on your palm (at about the same point where you get calluses when carrying a suitcase), or your fingers won't straighten properly, then you may have Dupuytren's Contracture. If you are male, over 50, Northern European ancestry and diabetic, then you have quite high odds of being a sufferer.
(But I'm female, not diabetic and was under 50 when diagnosed, so don't assume you have to fit that pattern.)
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And it's good to see an article in the Mail about it -- hopefully that means that a lot more people will realise what they have when it's still possible to treat it with radiotherapy.
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