"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Hi, Joann,
My husband had a very tough time with radiation and had a PEG tube placed before he began IMRT with the caveat that he may not ever have to use it. Well, thank God he had one as he lost weight and would have been in big trouble without it. He actually had it for 2 years. He also had numerous complications that others may not have had. So this is a personal choice. He always felt grateful that he had one.
Significant weight loss during radiation is not a good thing as the fit of the mask becomes loose. Ideally, you don't want any breaks in treatment if you can avoid it. Radiation is cumulative.
The bottom line is that you will do what feels right for you. All the best with continued treatment.
Anita
Anita (68) CG to husband, Clark, 79, DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08, HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft. Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear, PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14 Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22 PEG 7/21 Botox injections
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