Ann,

The whole point of feeding tubes, ideally, is to be used as *temporary* intervention when someone is being treated for something where the treatment interferes with eating. But I think the stereotype people have sometimes is that once you have one, its harder, somehow, to get back to eating on your own.

I didn't have to have a feeding tube from my tongue surgery and neck dissection but my cancer had not spread to the floor of the mouth yet. I know there are several people here who have had that surgery, though, and recovered quite well--including only needing the tube briefly. Please don't be scared of the tube, it's not a life sentence by any means, its just a way to keep you nourished and thus help you heal faster.

I am using a feeding tube now because I had radiation which resulted in bad mucositis and it got to be too painful to eat anything and I am still having a VERY hard time eating anything orally. I don't know where I'd be if feeding tubes hadn't been invented but I do know I'd be in a lot worse shape than I am!

I'm sorry to learn you've been struggling with this for so long--was it leukoplakia before or also scc that you had surgery for? Anyway, no one wants to ahve the qualifications to join this group here, but I can tell you its a great group of folks who have supported me enormously with both encouragement and information throughout my battle the last 6 months. Please do come back and let us know what they tell you at Sloan Kettering and how you are doing.

Nelie