Hi Spencer.If a PEG is recommended I would go with that recommendation. Depending on where your radiotherapy is targeted it can become very difficult to swallow because of the pain. As my radiotherapy was targeted at my jaw and not my throat my specialist did not recommend a feeding tube as it would not affect my swallow. However I wish he had as my mouth became so sore with ulcers that I found eating very painful and ended up losing 10.k.g. I was given pain killers and they did help but I never quite got on top of it. Took me a while to get the weight back on after treatment finished.
I didn't have a PEG, my hospital's policy at the time was to offer an NG tube when needed. With my partner's support (cooking bland food, & nagging me to drink Fortisips) I managed without until a tube until the last day of treatment. Then I was floored by extreme nausea, couldn't keep anything down even water, was hospitalised for a few days & had a tube for about 6 weeks - it was a lifesaver. We had some training in how to use it, and chose overnight pump feeding.
September 2022 aged 63 diagnosed with HPV associated SCC base of tongue T4 N2 M0. Chemo & radiotherapy for 6 weeks ending Nov 2022. Now over 2 years all clear. See my profile for longer story
