Susan

I hope your sister is back on track quickly, so she is able to finish treatments and then onto the recovery stage.

There are many people who didn't have a PEG, and many who did. Your sister has also had surgery on the area that is getting radiotherapy. Surgery in itself is extremely difficult. Some patients haven't had surgery before radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy treatments.

With this disease and its treatments, everyone is different. It depends on what areas the radiotherapy is being aimed and also how much each individual is getting. Every treatment is different. If your sister needs assistance in getting her nutrition and keeping hydrated, the PEG is a tool to assist with making these brutal treatments on her mouth just a tiny bit easier.

Take care

Karen


46 yrs:
Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0
Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs
30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin,
30 x HBO
Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy
(hip bone to reconstruct jaw)
Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw
Mar'09 Debulk flap
Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery