A friend of mine told me about this site. I have a sore for over year a half, went to see ENT on Jan 5, 2009, not much was done, finally I was sent to do a needle biopsy on the left lymph node and on August 14, I was told that I have cancer on my throat. I am a 53 years old male never smoke nor drink. My radiation and chemo treatment started on Oct 6, I am currently close to the mid-point of the process, the effect of radiation is starting to show, I was thinking about using a feeding tube as I have great difficulty in swallowing.

Welcome to OCF Stanley. You'll definitely find everything you need right here.

Hi Stanley:

Welcome, I guess, to the forum. I'm fairly new myself, but believe me I am so glad I found this site. So many of the members share wonderful ideas/suggestions/solutions/experiences with everyone and it really helps to know you are not alone. I was told at the begining of my radiation/chemo treatments that I should get a feeding tube, which I reluctantly did. However, I didn't regret it later when I had such a hard time trying to swallow and couldn't. I kept mine for about 6 - 8 months. I had tonsil cancer 11/07 and treatments ended 1/08. Thank God, so far all my follow-up CAT and PET scans have been clear. Good luck to you and I'll keep watching for your news.
julieann

I, too, had a PEG tube and still lost 50 lbs. Would have faded away completely without it. Unfortunately, the truth is things are going to get worse before they get better. Now, 20 months out from treatment, I'm doing very well and eating almost normally. Best of luck to you on this rocky road.

I didn't have a tube but the maim reason was that I have had surgery on my esophagus and they wrapped 1/3 of my stomache around my esophagus to help stop reflux which was very bad and was eating my esophagus. T o put a tube in for neourishment, the Dr that did the Nissen Fundiplication would have tio be the one to indo the stomache and lower it back from my chest into my stomache. THen insert the tube. This is a very serious operation. I lost 70 lns during my rads, chemo and rad seed implants. Get it if you can becuase right now I am paying for it.

Stanley,

Were you tested for HPV?

Re the PEG, I didn't have one and I made it just barely. Would I get one if I was had my experience knowledge and was about to start radiation, probably not. The most important thing is to keep ingesting tons of calories and water each and every day.

It can get worse from now until about 3 weeks post Tx so hang in there.

I had a PEG put in prior to starting treatment and still lost 40+ pounds. Can't imagine if I had not had it. It was not a problem to use or care for and when I was done with it, it was a painless removal.

Welcome Stanley to our group. I had a peg at the rec. of my cancer care nurses & also a medi-port. I am so glad I had both about the 2nd wk. of Tx. I also couldn't eat, my tongue was so sore from the rad. I lost 45Lbs (Best part of getting cancer!) But I could NOT have survived with out the peg. I never even had the full amount I should have,(only 3 or 4 cans per day) I was never hungry. (that is a huge help when people around you are eating such yummy food & you can't eat anything (because your mouth is like a war zone !) The medi-port is a implant under the collar bone, where blood can be accessed from i.e. IV's I say, take advantage of modern medicine! They knock you out anyway, when you wake up the worst is over! Best of Luck, Stay Strong!

I definitely endorse the port. That is the one thing I wish they had made me put in.

I elected not to have a port, and considering that I had to have an IV every day (1/wk for chemo and related, 5x/wk for Amifostine), the repeated sticks got old. However, I also did not have to worry about maintaining the port, etc.

I did not have a PEG, but I am likely the exception and not the rule. My side effects were not as severe as many, despite the fact that I had 39 radiation treatments. I had to force myself to eat, with substantial assistance from the wife, and had a limited range of choices toward the end. I lost about 32 pounds, but was able to resume regular eating pretty quickly.

Very individual choice, but lots of wisdom here.