If it's any help to your mother... My mother who had a peg tube put in May 2001 had it removed just last month. She has been through quite a bit in the last year, (neck disection, tongue, jaw, floor or mouth and 8 weeks of radiation/chemo) but has managed to get to the point where she no longer wanted or required the tube. She is 79 and is home on her own preparing her own meals. She is still drinking 2 cans of ENSURE PLUS to keep the calories and weight up. Hope this helps. Good luck to you and your mother. The peg tube will enable her to concentrate on recovery and not worrying about getting enough nutrition.