Anita

When the posts on OCF are neutral instead of urging an elective procedure, I won't have to post about it. I'm all for detente but the advice on OCF is very pro-PEG with active denial that a feeding tube does pose a risk of having difficulty swallowing later or even eating solid regular food and being relegated to soft "easy to eat" after TX.
Do I bristle at those who urge every oral cancer patient to get a PEG �just in case�? Yes. Do I seethe when my supportive comments on patients trying to avoid a PEG are denounced. Yes. Will I continue to "rise to the bait" each and every time those post appear. Yes
Why? Well for me, not getting a PEG was psychologically significant. It meant that this terrible Stage IV Cancer at the Base of my Tongue was �not the boss of me�. Despite the pain, I could and would literally force myself to swallow cans of Ensure Plus down the festering mess that used to be my throat before the radiation and chemotherapy. At the end, I awarded myself an imaginary medal for my �bravery� and endurance. I was able to quickly eat solid food again.

My initial posts mentioning studies and opinions that using a PEG could cause �withdrawal� problems or put a return to normal swallowing at risk, reignited the then dormant PEG Wars. I won't even go into the private messages from the true believers as though I had violated some taboo on urging resistance to the PEG. Others took the tack of appealling to my arrogance & pride with a variation of �yes, it can work for an exceptional person like you, but consider the common patient�. But the PEG wars were here before me and they will be here after me until there is a real balance on the board.
Charm