2015 RADIATON DOSAGE FOR MY LEDDERHOSE DISEASE

My Radiation Therapy Dosage

Dr. Hochman follows the German protocol by Prof Seegenschmiedt.  That protocol is 3GY, for 5 days with a break of appx 12 weeks and then another 3GY, for 5 days.  I waited the full 12 weeks.  I had no post radiation therapy complications.  Some people do experience some side effects like extremely dry skin to a few people blistering and the skin becoming inflamed/red.

The above machine was used to administer the radiation therapy.  The attachment is where the mold is located.  The mold then is placed precisely over the foot and lined up with the doctors drawing and tattoo area.  They lay a "bolus" over my foot.  This is a cool damp feeling material that allows the radiation to be delivered closest to the skin.  Then the radiation therapy is administered. Lasting appx 45 seconds per foot.
 http://www.dupuytrensdiseasesupport.com/what-is-ledderhose-disease.html

 The statements or any opinions expressed within this website or any related or advertised sites are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any advice or comments given  should not be relied upon as individual medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is intended everyone is advised to consult their own doctors for medical advice specific to them. There is no endorsement nor recommendation of any treatment nor physician noted on this site.

2015 1ST DAY OF RADIATION THERAPY FOR LEDDERHOSE DISEASE

My right foot, 2 nodules

1st Day of Radiation Therapy for my Ledderhose Disease

I go in for my first treatment and tell the assistant about my other foot.   He moves forward with the treatment on my right foot.  They lay me down on my stomach, prop my foot on a pillow, lay the bolus over the treatment area, places the mold in place, and administers the dose.  It takes about 45 seconds to deliver the dose.  He comes back in with Dr. Hochman.  We do another exam of the left foot and YES, I have a nodule there!  Overnight?  I remember several people saying their nodules came up overnight.  We move forward with making a mold for the left foot.  It also gets 4 tattoos (ouch) and mapped. I will return that afternoon for that treatment. They will make the mold and do the insurance paperwork.  I return in the afternoon, treat the left foot.  The Tuesday - Friday treatment goes according to plan.  It takes appx 45 seconds a foot. The office is on-time every single day. So within 10 minutes I am in and out and on my way.

The two round circles are fibromas, the larger circled fibroma is appx 1.4 mm and the smaller .8 mm.  A shield was made to administer the radiation to the are within the larger area.  There are 4 tattoo's, not very visible.  The R.O. used a sharpie to mark the nodules and area to be irradiated.
http://www.dupuytrensdiseasesupport.com/what-is-ledderhose-disease.html

 The statements or any opinions expressed within this website or any related or advertised sites are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any advice or comments given  should not be relied upon as individual medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is intended everyone is advised to consult their own doctors for medical advice specific to them. There is no endorsement nor recommendation of any treatment nor physician noted on this site.

2015 NIGHT BEFORE R.T. NOW WHAT? DO I HAVE LEDDERHOSE ON MY LEFT FOOT TOO?

Sunday before my Radiation Therapy scheduled for Monday

I feel this firey, hot spot and itching on my left foot in the same exact location as the small nodule on my right foot.  OH NO!  All I can think is this foot has it too.  How can this be?  I've had no reason to think I have this in my other foot. But this sensation of fire and itching keeps on all day and night.  I have this same sensation in the other foot.
http://www.dupuytrensdiseasesupport.com/what-is-ledderhose-disease.html


The statements or any opinions expressed within this website or any related or advertised sites are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any advice or comments given  should not be relied upon as individual medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is intended everyone is advised to consult their own doctors for medical advice specific to them. There is no endorsement nor recommendation of any treatment nor physician noted on this site.

2015 RADIATION ONCOLOGIST CONSULTATION FOR LEDDERHOSE DISEASE

Radiation Oncologist Appointment with Dr. Lawrence Hochman for June 2015

The consultation appointment is set for a Friday.  If all goes well, they will map my foot and prepare the molds for the radiation therapy.  I will begin radiation therapy (R.T.) the following week, Monday - Friday.


The consultation reveals I am in an active state and a good candidate for R.T. Dr. Hochman maps my feet.  He has palpitated both feet and both hands.  No further disease is found.  Just this right foot, two nodules.  He sets me up with the team that makes the mold, a shield that contains the dose of radiation to the space on the foot being treated. I also get 4 tattoos to mark for spots so they can use this to ensure the location of the treatment field.  Yep, it was a pretty good sting in the bottom of your arch, that skin is thin.   This process takes appx 2 hours and I am out the door to return on Monday!  Dr. Hochman's office has already taken care of the insurance coverage and communicated all of that with me.  The appointment was seamless.

The photo below is 11 weeks post radiation therapy from the first session of treatment. The remarkable difference is the fibroma not nearly as "pointy" as it was prior to treatment.  The skin appears to be puffy but was not swollen feeling, nor any edema or swelling felt.
http://www.dupuytrensdiseasesupport.com/what-is-ledderhose-disease.html

The statements or any opinions expressed within this website or any related or advertised sites are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any advice or comments given  should not be relied upon as individual medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is intended everyone is advised to consult their own doctors for medical advice specific to them. There is no endorsement nor recommendation of any treatment nor physician noted on this site.

2015 RADIATION ONCOLOGIST APPOINTMENT IS SET TO TREAT MY LEDDERHOSE DISEASE

Radiation Oncologist Appointment is set, April 2015

I talk with my family even more.  I contact Dr. Hochman's office and make a consultation appointment for June 2015 on a Friday.
http://www.dupuytrensdiseasesupport.com/what-is-ledderhose-disease.html

 The statements or any opinions expressed within this website or any related or advertised sites are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any advice or comments given  should not be relied upon as individual medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is intended everyone is advised to consult their own doctors for medical advice specific to them. There is no endorsement nor recommendation of any treatment nor physician noted on this site.

2015 NEW RADIOLOGY ONCOLOGIST FOUND FOR MY LEDDERHOSE DISEASE

Having to move to a new Radiology Oncologist (R.O.) 2015

Given I could never obtain my records to send to the local R.O. I could not see her.  I wasn't willing to wait and moved onto speaking with others that had used another R.O.  The closest R.O. I could find was Jacksonville, FL and Tampa, FL.  I speak with both facilities.  I speak again with people have used Dr. Lawrence Hochman, R.O. with Florida Cancer Affiliates in New Trinity, Florida (just outside Tampa, FL).  I ended up self referring myself to him since I could not obtain my medical records.
http://www.dupuytrensdiseasesupport.com/what-is-ledderhose-disease.html

Dr. Lawrence Hochman has treated several people I spoke with.  His familiarity of the disease and personal recommendations was why I chose him.  

http://floridacancer.com/physicians/lawrence-hochman-do-facro/

 The statements or any opinions expressed within this website or any related or advertised sites are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any advice or comments given  should not be relied upon as individual medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is intended everyone is advised to consult their own doctors for medical advice specific to them. There is no endorsement nor recommendation of any treatment nor physician noted on this site.

2015 MEDICAL RECORDS NIGHTMARE DURING MY LEDDERHOSE TREATMENT SEARCH

The medical record nightmare 2015

So you think your medical records are yours and you just sign a form and get them, right?  Well I did too!  I actually went to my podiatrist office and signed the form for the records to be released to UAB.  A few days later I contact Dr. Ruby Meredith's office and find out they don't have my records, hmmm.  I phone the podiatrist office and they tell me their computer system was down, but they would get them sent in a couple of days.  I think that's actually going to happen.  I phone back and find out the computer is still down.  Weeks later, the server is down now and still no records.  When I filled out the form for the release they asked why I wanted them, I just said I wanted to get another evaluation.  Long story short - I was NEVER able to get the records for myself nor sent to Dr. Meredith.  Do I feel the server was down and they were unable to get me the records - OR - do I believe the doctor knew they were going to the R.O. dept and just conveniently found the server to be the reason for my records not to be available. I'll not post my thoughts. I will say this - until this day in 2016 I have NEVER found a doctor to be willing to even discuss RT as an option for this disease.  They clam up and act like a mute.


Note:  Radiation Therapy is an often used therapy for this disease in another country.  Many times we are left to use other studies as our(meaning the USA) own research since we are not providing the medical treatment here and doing the studies here.  Surgeons seem to tell people that R.T. will give you cancer. Thankfully with this low dose and the typical age of people who get this disease, our risk is less than 1%.   I've learned a lot and one of the most important things I have learned is that surgeons are trained to be just that, a surgeon.  They have no training on R.T. and I believe this is a black hole for them.  It's not their expertise and they have no knowledge about it.  Also, if R.T. is successful they lose business.  So, I can see why they are not R.T. friendly.
http://www.dupuytrensdiseasesupport.com/what-is-ledderhose-disease.html

 The statements or any opinions expressed within this website or any related or advertised sites are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any advice or comments given  should not be relied upon as individual medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is intended everyone is advised to consult their own doctors for medical advice specific to them. There is no endorsement nor recommendation of any treatment nor physician noted on this site.