My mom is starting her third round of chemo on Oct.14. She will start her first week of radiation the same day. My question is that she is also having a feeding tube put in on Oct. 9, will she be feeling well enough after the surgery for the feeding tube to start chemo/rad. just 5 days later? Does is take a long time for the discomfort from the tube to go away? And one last question...about how long before she starts to feel the negative effects of the radiation? She is so nervous about it all. She will have 6-7 weeks of rad. twice a day. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
denise

Having the peg tube put in will be a piece of cake.........the worry about it is the worst part,it`s done in no time............not to worry..............as Packer`s wife.......my memory of radiation was that the last couple weeks were pretty rough, but pain meds got him through...........don`t worry about the peg tube!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Denise,

So glad to hear that your mom is having the tube placed now. My mother waited until after her treatments and than HAD to have one because she was not taking in enough fluids. Hopefully, your mom can avoid this problem. The placement is a snap.

How is your mom doing on chemo? For mine, it was a breeze (she had 5 weekly doses of cisplatin and one of carboplatin). It was into about the fifth week of radiation when my mother started having great difficulty. That's when her fluid intake decreased so your mom having the tube before hand should help.

Cynthia

Hi Denise,

I only had surgery and radiation, but I can tell you in my case the docs were right on timing wise and the effects of radiation started about two weeks in. The worst was the last week and a half or so...and then it remains in your system, but levels off and slowly decreases.
The way I was told is that "it's 2 weeks in before you feel it and two weeks after seems you're still in it." That was pretty accurate for me.
Luck to your Mom.

Take care,
Dinah

Cynthia, Packer66 and Dinah
Thanks for the advice about the PEG tube, my mom will feel a little better I hope with this information from you. Thanks again.
denise

Hi Denise. Just one more vote for the PEG. I was ready to pack up and leave town rather then get one, but it truly was a piece of cake. An outpatient procedure, I was asleep when they did it and went home when I woke up. Very little soreness and that was gone the next day. Everyone is different, but I had the IMRT type of radiation, and didn't need pain pills until the last, or 7th, week. Up until then I had only a little discomfort that Tylenol took care of. I hope it goes as easily for your mom.
Joanna