I belong to the minority group here without a PEG during treatment despite difficulty in swallowing. I managed to go through the whole treatment without a feeding tube and lost about 16 lbs and regained all my lost weight in 6 months' time. Maybe it is a cultural difference, in Hong Kong, patients are seldom advised to have the tube before the treatment. In fact,only about 25% of head/neck cancer patients here are required to have a tube during treatment. I am glad that I didn't need one but I won't object to anyone opting for one if it is an easier path for getting nutrition.

Karen

Karen stage 4B (T3N3M0)tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001.Concurrent chemo-radiation treatment ( XRT x 48 /Cisplatin x 4) ended in 12/01. Have been in remission ever since.