Shannette,

Tube or no tube has been one of the longest discussions ever had and if your father is bound and determined not to have one then he probably won't get one so encourage him to eat. He is right about the taste. His throat may get quite a bit rougher but the taste will be bad for a while maybe after treatment is done. Everyone is a little different. Use the search feature for the forums and read all you want and then some! It is good to hear that even though it seems rough, so many have traveled the road ahead of your father and I would doubt anything he could experience would be a first! It might help you too to see what others have done.

Viruses can be triggered buy many things and there is a link between HPV 16 and 18. Search for HPV.

Your father is fortunate to have you helping him through this!

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023