Cancer

Dear Leannegrace,

Thank you for getting in touch with us, and welcome to our online community. My name is Annerose I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses here at the Macmillan Cancer Support line.

I understand your mum is being fed via a PEG tube, and you are having concerned she is not having chemotherapy because of it.

Your research is correct, generally speaking, having a PEG tube does not prevent a person to have chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, we cannot access your mother’s NHS notes, as we are not part of the NHS. However, there might be reasons why your mother was told she cannot have chemotherapy, such as an infection or wound healing problems at the PEG insertion site.

We would advise to contact her consultant, or if she has one, her clinical nurse specialist, to discuss this with them further and to get an understanding of their decision. Have a look at our tips for talking with the healthcare team and use this to best prepare you for this consultation. 

I hope this has been helpful, but please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you need any further information or support.

Best wishes and take care, 

Annerose (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist) 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

Ref/ GcRobb/AM

Hi thanks for reply. My mum seems to be a mystery. What started as acid reflux, has taken 9 months of 7, endoscopic, multiple colonoscopies, 40+ biopsies. Liquid diet since February 2023. To finding a small amount of estrogen based cancer in duodenum (which is pretty much fully closed). Mammograms, pet scan, mri shows no breast cancer in breast just in auxiliary lymphnodes. Gastro and oncology don't seem to be communicating even though two mdt meetings have been held. She has the lowest count of electrolytes the hospital have seen, which is recurring. She has lost over 4 stone in 4 months. Gastro are trying to perform an operation(which keeps getting cancelled) to attach stomach to juojenum before cancer treatment can start. However I'm she has been told if not possible, they will attach a peg as a last resort as she is so malnourished it's heartbreaking. But was a peg would mean no chemotherapy. I think they just don't know how to treat her. We've just contacted pals team today. We're all out of options 

Hello Leanne

Thanks for getting back in touch, I’m Helen, one of Annerose’s colleagues.  

Your mum really has been through it, and I can see why you are so concerned. I sincerely hope that things can be sorted for her very soon and that PALS will be able to help.

Do consider giving us a call on the support line, Leanne. This must be taking a tremendous toll on you, and we are always here to support.

The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Best wishes, Helen

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist