Hopefully your dad gets through this all and it sounds like he has the gumption to do so. I think pegs are a tool to be used if necessary. I personally had one as I wasn't really given a choice. It was standard practice at the hospital, and the told me they wanted me to have one. I didn't have to use it, but it was there if I needed it. Well all in all it was useless to me as I wasn't able to tolerate the feeds and took everything by mouth. I could afford the weight loss, and lost about 20 lbs. The best part was the psychological boost I got from having it removed 2 weeks after finishing treatment.

best of luck.

Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan