hi everyone, this is my first post! I was diagnosed with MBC (de novo) in January 2018. Mets were found in my lungs, bones and brain. I completed chemo June 2018 and very happy with latest scans. Eights spots in lungs have disappeared, breast tumours have shrunk dramatically and no further changes to the brain met. (no one seems too worried about the Mets to bones at the moment). I am currently receiving perjeta and herceptin every three weeks and taking Femara daily.the reason for the post is that I have just been diagnosed with Dupuytren’s Contracture - which is small ‘boney like’ lumps on the palms of my hands. Apparently it is quite a rarity for women and the Professor is looking at the link to Femara???there is no cure for Dupuytren’s but as I have caught it early I will be having radiation on both palms - this cannot be done if it goes to the next level.Has anyone else experienced this?Thank you for reading. Xx

@arpie Thank you for your response! I live in Sydney and am having treatment at the Prince Of Wales at Randwick under the fabulous Professor Friedlander. I’m very lucky that the BC nurses made me see Prof as I had just mentioned these strange little lumps in passing. They then sprang into action and walked me round to see the Prof. He confirmed it was Dupuytren’s (I’d never heard of it). From there it was straight to the hand surgeon, who said it was in the initial stages. Radiation can only be performed if it is at Stage 0, so I am very lucky. I see Prof Michael Jackson (hahaha love the name) for one week of radiation every day and then six weeks off and then another week of radiation everyday. Both doctors said that because I had no family history and really didn’t fit the frame for a typical Dupuytren’s patient, that maybe it could be linked to the Femara. I thought I’d ask here so that maybe if someone else had these strange little lumps, they could also get the treatment at the early stage.To be honest, I wasn’t really that concerned about it, but I definitely didnt want to end up with ‘claw hands’ 😂😂 I have enough on my plate at the moment.Thank you again for your kind concern - I hope your treatment is going well also ❤️😧

@JoeyLiz Thank you for your kind thoughts - I see the Radiation Prof next Friday, I will let you know how it goes. Xx

Thanks for your reply @karenhappyquilter..... No, no one in my family has it and it is so strange as it seems too much of a coincidence that it has appeared since I have been taking the Femara. Prof thinks there could be a connection and I was hoping to let others know. Radiation is only an option if you ‘catch’ it in the early stages, otherwise it is surgery.Hahah it is probably the least of my worries at the moment though!!

I can understand trigger finger - Femara can play havoc with joints. Cross fingers, so far so good for me as regards joint problems. My mother was driven mad with multiple trigger fingers in her last few years - no Femara though!

Terrific to hear your treatment has gone so well .... Where abouts do you live, @leema? A buddy with Prostate Cancer Mets had quite restrictive Dupuytren’s Contracture in one hand - and a wonderful surgeon in Newcastle did the surgery on him, gratis! Such a wonderful thing for him, as it has enabled him to get back to his offshore kayak fishing, which is one of the 'mainstay activities' since being diagnosed with Mets straight up, 18 months ago. His boney like lumps were quite pronounced & his hand had a real 'claw' like shape ..... if you can get it checked out sooner than later (before it becomes more extreme) it could be worth investigating. I hadn't heard of Rads as a treatment before.I had quite extreme Trigger Finger on Letrozole (and Exemestane) now on Arimidex (and magic oil) and the trigger finger (thumb in particular and middle finger) has now fixed up!Take care, all the best with the rads on your hand xxx

Dupuytren’s Contracture | BCNA Online Network

20 Replies

iserbrown
Member
2 years ago
I have Dupuytren's Contracture. I've had it assessed, one to keep an eye on. For me it is hereditary.

From Google
What causes Dupuytren contracture? Dupuytren contracture is believed to run in families (be hereditary). The exact cause is not known.

Within this discussion there's a post from @JoeyLiz - that should give you comfort if you need to have radiation.

Take care
arpie
Member
2 years ago
@Daina_BCNA @Mez_BCNA @Pat_BCNA ... Could you please copy Jaynie_000's post to Newly Diagnosed, so that she gets dedicated answers to her post, Many thanks

@jaynie_000 - in the mean time, you might like to join the Metastatic Private Group, where only members can see any questions & answers xx.

I know 3 people who've had successful surgery on their Dupuytrens - and are so glad they had it done, as I understand the contractions continue 'tightening' unless rectified by surgery, sometimes resulting in losing all use of that hand :(

take care
jaynie_000
Member
2 years ago
Hi LEEMA, this is my first post on this platform. I see my oncologist tomorrow, but I have developed a painful and growing nodule on my ring finger / knuckle on the underside of my palm. It’s getting larger and more painful. I am on femara since 2020 when I got diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at age 53.

My first / initial diagnosis with early breast cancer was in 2009 and I was 42. I took Arimidex for 9 months but couldn’t cope with the pain in my feet. I changed to Aromasin and it ultimately dissolved my Achilles tendon. I required it to be grafted after it broke. I was on Aromasin for 6 years and gave up on AI’s due to their effect on my tendons and continued pain in my joints and feet. Fast forwards to now and I have had plantar fasciitis (pain in arch of foot) and now I’ve discovered the nodule on my palm. I can’t hold the steering wheel of my car well or open a jar with a tight lid. Any action that requires grip hurts. My oncologist has previously said that Femara can cause tendinitis so I’m ready for her to say give femara a rest for a while. But she has also told me that aromatase inhibitors essentially are the only drug that holds the cancer at bay. Because my cancer is hormone receptive. Ultimately my cancer will recognise an AI and work a way to get around it. When that happens it’s a whole new approach to treatment. So I’m not keen to go off Femara for any period of time. I will put up with side effects.

I live in Sydney close to the CBD. I have most of my treatment and appointments through the Mater hospital at north Sydney. I have huge trust for my onc. a professor and specialist when it come to MBC. I am keen to know how you have found the radiation treatment. Did it work? I know an excellent hand surgeon but if I can avoid surgery then I will pursue that option. And my biggest question is …Femara the cause of your Dupuytrens.
jaynie_000
Member
2 years ago

LEEMA said:

hi everyone, this is my first post! I was diagnosed with MBC (de novo) in January 2018. Mets were found in my lungs, bones and brain. I completed chemo June 2018 and very happy with latest scans. Eights spots in lungs have disappeared, breast tumours have shrunk dramatically and no further changes to the brain met. (no one seems too worried about the Mets to bones at the moment). I am currently receiving perjeta and herceptin every three weeks and taking Femara daily.

the reason for the post is that I have just been diagnosed with Dupuytren’s Contracture - which is small ‘boney like’ lumps on the palms of my hands. Apparently it is quite a rarity for women and the Professor is looking at the link to Femara???

there is no cure for Dupuytren’s but as I have caught it early I will be having radiation on both palms - this cannot be done if it goes to the next level.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you for reading. Xx
Jwrenn
Member
5 years ago
Hi @LEEMA I’m wondering how you’re going after having radiation for dupuytrens? I have it as well but only got offered surgery with mine.
LEEMA
Member
6 years ago
@JoeyLiz Thank you for your kind thoughts - I see the Radiation Prof next Friday, I will let you know how it goes. Xx
JoeyLiz
Member
6 years ago
We treat it quite regularly at my clinic with great success rates. Your palm does get quite red and it can a little painful to do some tasks such as driving so we do 1 hand at a time but same regime as you have described above. Best of luck with treatment x
LEEMA
Member
6 years ago
@Shakalker thanks for your post. Just keep a look out for any little bumps on your palms - have them checked because if it does turn out o be DC, radiation is only available if you catch it early. Good luck xx
Shakalker
Member
6 years ago
Hi @LEEMA,
I have developed trigger finger in both middle fingers, strangely it is there when I wake up but disappears as soon as I start using my fingers.
Thanks for your post, It has made me aware of DC now, but with the comments of others it has given a name to the strange clickiness in my middle finger.
Best wishes to you
S xx
LEEMA
Member
6 years ago
Hi @Annski, mine is only in the early stages and that is the reason I was offered radiation - apparently it is only viable if you seek treatment very early. It has appeared on both my hands (nothing on my feet). It was my BC Nurses who made me show the professor - I had never heard of Dupuytren’s.

I hope your hand doesn’t deteriorate any further, and I also hope if someone else on here notices any small bone lumps on their palms that they seek treatment early.

Thank you for taking the time to respond xx