Hi after having lymph nodes removed in right armpit, I will be having dressing changed on Friday then it will be another 2 weeks for meeting with breast care consultant with results. I will then hopefully start treatment on tumour on my tongue I have been told radiotherapy and chemotherapy.The waiting is just one of those things I know but in that time you start thinking and worrying .I am asking for help regarding feeding tubes. Things like do you always have one when having radiotherapy on your throat and mouth,do they put one in always before radiotherapy or do they wait. If anyone has any information on this I would be very greatfull .I have read a little about it but its bit text book and it doesn't answer my questions.
Thank you for replying appreciate the information
Hi It’s does creep up in you your tubes there to help you. If you don’t get sufficient hydration and nutrition in it can hamper recovery. It’s in so please use it m plus yiur medication can go through it.
good luck Hazel
Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz
My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now 6 years post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help
Like many people my husband had a naso-gastric tube fitted in week 3 of RT/chemo. He relied on it from August to January, a few months after treatment finished. It was a complete lifesaver. He couldn’t even swallow a drop of water at one point but the tube got him through. We couldn’t imagine it ahead of time and thought he would enough will power not to need it - how naive we were! Don’t try to tough it out, the tube is your friend. You’ll be fine. Good luck. Xxx
Keep the Faith
Ruth
Again thank you to everyone who has replied with advice and support. I was contacted by my cancer nurse 3 days ago and she confirmed that they will fit a feeding tube before they start treatment which they are now getting underway.
Having a feeding rig fitted on 25 th a day after treatment starts I have tonsil and cancer on both sides of the throat HPV + . My throat is really sore now so happy to get something in place to help as aware things will get worse before they get better and eating and drinking will be problematic. I was told you can have the feeding tube put in before proactive or reactively as eating gets problematic, I went with the first rather get things in place and be ready for what comes my way . The choice is yours and wishing you the best in recovery
Hi again thank you everyone for replying and advice. I have had feeding tube fitted peg and five teeth removed. The tube has been in a week now not having any trouble or discomfort but I will be looking forward to the day it is out. I will be starting radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 3 weeks time. Radiotherapy for 7 weeks and 2 doses of chemotherapy so at last the wait is over and I have dates and know the treatment which I have been told is curative.Sorry if my posts seems a bit erratic but I am not really used to emails and trying to get used to it.
Hi!
My dad had his peg fitted before he started his treatment about two weeks before hand. We only needed to use the peg on week 6 of treatment due to him feeling sick and having a lot of mucus build up at the back of his throat. He had tonsil cancer which had gone into the lymph nodes within his neck so radiotherapy was needed within that area which affected obviously things such as his eating. He has now had his peg removed as of yesterday as we had only used it for a total of five days during week 6 six of radiotherapy. My dad had his peg fitted in January 2024 two weeks before treatment and removed June 2024.
As others have previously mentioned, it’s absolutely not compulsory for you to have a feeding tube and every NHS trust is different as well as your consultant and team. Some like to have them in before treatment and some will put them in during treatment.
I hope this helps of some sort! I wish you the best
Thank you for information the peg fitted and kind of got used to it now I don't like rotating it though but that's me been a bit squimish. Starting radiotherapy in seven days tomorrow hopefully all will go well
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