Yes,that first week can be very misleading, but enjoy it. I went almost two weeks before really feeling it. As for avoiding a feeding tube or PEG tube as it is called (percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy), it can be done. I did eight weeks of radiation and chemo (Erbitux) the first time without a feeding tube. Heads up that it is hard to get enough calories after you can't eat solid food, but then I switched to Ensure Plus and forced down 6 cans a day. I'm not alone here in getting thru without a feeding tube, Michael Douglas did also, plus many other OCF members. But be sure you are prepared for how hard it is to do this with a feeding tube. For me, it was psychologically important so the extra difficulty was worth it.
Unlike most OCF posters,(with apologies to Joni Mitchell)
[quote]I've looked at PEGs from both sides now, from win and lose, and still somehow, it's PEG's illusions I recall, [/quote]. After the salvage surgery, my epiglottis was damaged so I could not swallow at all. I was surprised at all the complications of a PEG, from leakage, to the tube dangling, to spilling. Whether you get a PEG or not, be proactive in getting adequate pain relief, moving up from Percocet to fentanyl patches (synthetic morphine) as needed.
You can do this, we all have, some of us more than once (like PaulB)
Charm