Mums Diagnosis

Hi  and a warm welcome to the online community

I'm sorry to hear that your mum has been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. It must be a very hard time for you all and I can understand that being away at the moment must be making you more anxious.

Having not had this type of cancer myself I don't have any information about feeding tubes or the procedures involved but I did notice that your post had gone unanswered. By replying to you it will 'bump' your post back to the top of the page where it has a chance of being seen by someone who can share their experience with you.

While you're waiting for replies you could post this question in the ask a nurse section and one of the specialist nurses will respond within 2 working days.

x

Hi I am sorry to hear your Mom has been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.  My husband also was diagnosed last November T4 N1 M0 . He  is unable to eat any solid food and lost a lot of weight. He had a RIG insertion in his stomach last February to fit a feeding tube . The food is feed through a pump which is attached to a tube that goes directly into the stomach this is kept in place by little water balloons.  A nurse calls once a week to change them.  The pump is programmed every night my husband seems to cope well with it although at first I worried how he could sleep with it. The pump has a handle and can be carried so he can walk around with it.  My husbands food is delivered once a month (liquid nutrition). A nutritional nurse gave us instructions on how to program the pump they are very helpful if there is any problems. 

He gets all his nutrition from the feeding tube and really it has been fantastic and he has no problems with it .He has not lost any weight since he has been on it. 

Not sure if this is any help to you. I wish your Mom well.

Hi Dominique  I am sorry to hear your Mom is diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.  My husband also was diagnosed last November T4 N1 M0 . He  is unable to eat any solid food and lost a lot of weight. He had a RIG insertion in his stomach last February to fit a feeding tube . The food is feed through a pump which is attached to a tube that goes directly into the stomach this is kept in place by little water balloons.  A nurse calls once a week to change the water in the balloons. The pump is programmed every night and it takes around 12 hours for it to feed though. My husband seems to cope well with it although at first I worried how he could sleep with it. The pump has a handle and can be carried so he can walk around with it when it’s attached to him.  My husbands food is delivered once a month (liquid nutrition). A nutritional nurse gave us instructions on how to program the pump they are very helpful if there is any problems. 

He gets all his nutrition from the feeding tube and really it has been fantastic and he has no problems with it .He has not lost any weight since he has been on it. 

Not sure if this information is any help to you. I wish your Mom well at what must be a worrying time for you both.

Hi. Sorry you find yourself here.  My mum had a feeding tube up her nose and down into her stomach.  The district nurse came every night to attach the feed and every morning to disconnect. She could have done it herself but she didn’t feel confident enough.  It took away the worry of her getting enough to eat and although she did lose weight during chemo and radiotherapy not as much as she would have done without it. She couldn’t feel it once it was in place and wasn’t to bad when it was put in.  She was 78 at the time and is now 82 and doing really well.   She didn’t have the op either.  Sending lots of good wishes to your mum xx