Radiotherapy and chemo has anyone not had a peg tube?

Hi Janene123 I 100% agree with Hazel, with this treatment you need everything you can have to help you through it, The recovery after treatment is also very challenging. He must really speak to his team so he can get an idea of what this treatment is like.

Regards Ray.

Hi. I had an SCC, lump in neck and suspected cancer in tonsil base (no primary found). I had surgery (neck dissection), Chemo and radiotherapy. I was told I would need a tube at some point but, it never got mentioned again by my team, perhaps because I only lost 5lb in the months of treatment. I managed with co-codamol half way through treatment, and soluble paracetemol the rest of the time. I fit into the small category (having read posts over 2 years), that managed without a tube. I was dead set against too, I hate the thought of anything alien sticking in me or out of me. I think I was perhaps very lucky to have got through without, I will never know what might have been around the corner if it had got rough. Small and often meals (peach, cream, custard, ice cream, watery soup, sweet potato-easier than white, and Fortisips) and when I could, I would nibble on dark chocolate. Everyone is so different in how they react to the treatment, where you get zapped and how much zapping they do, it's so hard to have a one size shoe fits all. I only had 2 mouth ulcer for about 2 weeks, so that might have helped me too. I rebelled against the other half when he made me any food, but he persevered with the tablespoon of something in the bottom of a ramekin. I hope you find a point where everyone is happy on how to proceed. I am sure it helps.

Tricia

I have had a tube for the past six years. As long as you use the right tube (monarch) you wont even feel or notice it is there. If you really need it then you should have it. 

Good evening Janene123, great advice from the other guys, personally through my own experiences the PEG is a beneficial aid for the recovery. As well as pain killers, maybe as time goes by he will change his mind, lets hope so. Wishing you all the best and hope all goes well with the treatment for your husband. Take care. 

                                                                         Chris x

I did it with no feeding aids and can say it wasn't easy I had 30 round of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and operation before but did end up in hospital last 2 weeks with chest infection urine infection and need blood transfusion but the others in the ward were there with infections and feeding tubes problems not sure there were any winner either way sending you best wishes 

Hi Janene, this is getting to be a broken record but without the PEG your husband could easily finish up hospitalised and I’m sure he wouldn’t like that. I could swallow but eating became impossible for a few weeks and my weight dropped a stone plus in that time, I’m now on day 24 not having to use it but it was without doubt a life saver! If I had to go through this again the easiest decision would be to have the PEG fitted. It’s temporary and without it the treatment and consequences of the latter could be far worse than they needed to be.

Maybe his support team could have a go at him? He seriously needs to reconsider!

Good luck.

Barry

Hello, I know I'm a bit late to this thread but my partner is having radio (no chemo) and they have said they believe he is stoical enough to not need a feeding tube. He just had a oropharyngectomy and neck dissection and has lost no weight 3 weeks post surgery. It has taken him an hour and a half to eat some meals though. I also believe not having the chemo in conjunction should lessen the side effects somewhat, but they say everyone is different so time will tell. They said they would rather admit him than give a PEG, for some unknown reason. 

What hospital is he at Cat?

Royal Surrey 

Unknown said:

They said they would rather admit him than give a PEG, for some unknown reason. 

That sounds a little odd because it he's struggling to keep weight on to the extent that they need to admit him, then I don't see what other action they can take other than put in some sort of feeding tube at that later stage.

I'd ask for some sort of clarification if I were you, it's a new one on me.