Case Study: Valerie

We spoke to Valerie, a patient who was suffering from Ledderhose disease, three months after her radiotherapy treatment to see how she was getting on. Here’s what she told us:

How were your feet before treatment?
Before treatment, I was struggling to walk any distance and could hardly cycle (in my early 20s, I did the London to Brighton bike ride).
I live in a beautiful county with lots of lovely walks, which I could not do.

Both my feet kept me awake at night, itching, throbbing, and burning, and I was off balance when first standing in the mornings. I cried when my foot specialist at my local clinic said there was nothing else he could do for me.

Are you able to do more or less with your feet since the radiotherapy?
I can go for walks without worrying that my feet will hurt and that I will suffer for days after.

 

Has the disease got better or worse since the end of radiotherapy?
As far as I can tell there has been no progression in my feet and the nodules appear to have shrunk and I am really pleased to be pain free.

 

Have the nodules (lumps) got better or worse?
They definitely appear smaller and flatter in my feet

I don’t even think about pain when I’m walking where as it was constant before. Love my feet again and danced at a wedding last week for the first time in years. Not in heels though.

Overall, were you happy with the treatment?
Yes, very.

What were you particularly happy with?

It is quick and easy, and the end result is pain-free.

Was there anything that could have been improved?
Nothing, a very easy process

Dupuytren’s disease

Ledderhose disease

Dupuytren’s disease

Ledderhose disease

Dupuytren’s disease

Ledderhose disease

Dupuytren’s disease

Our centres

Appointments with Dr Shaffer take place in London, Guildford and Nottingham. Treatment can be delivered in any of 15 centres around the UK (Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Cromwell, Elstree, Guildford, London Cromwell, Wimbledon Cancer Centre London,  Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Windsor). See below for details:

London - Cromwell Hospital

164-178 Cromwell Road, SW5 0TU

Wimbledon Cancer Centre London

49 Parkside, London SW19 5NB

Guildford - GenesisCare Surrey

Rosalind Franklin Close, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7AW

Nottingham - The Park Centre Oncology

Sherwood Lodge Drive, NG5 8RX