Arvind,

A PEG tube is a tubular feeding mechanism that is installed directly into the stomach of the patient. In my case, about 12" of the tube protruded from my stomach. It is capped on the end and is typically taped in place on and around the stomach/chest area when not in use.

The purpose of the tube is to provide a nutritional route to the stomach for the patient while undergoing radiation to the head and neck area. The effect of the radiation around the 3rd week will cause considerable discomfort to the mouth and throat tissue with your mom to where it might become extremely difficult or even impossible for her to take food/liquid by mouth.

It seems that there are differing opinions around the world in head/neck cancer treatment protocol as to whether or not the patient is fitted with a PEG from the beginning. A lot of this may have to do with what one's insurance company will cover also. A fellow patient at the facility treating me had insurance coverage with a particular company that would not cover the cost of the PEG if installed prior to treatment. This patient got to where he could not eat or drink in his 4th week of treatment and the PEG had to be installed. His insurance company covered it under that circumstance but the docs felt as though his treatment may have been compromised for having to suspend treatment for 3 days for the PEG installation.

The PEG was a major nuisance to me but also probably saved me a lot of grief. There was about a 4 week period where I had to get all nutrition and medications via the tube. You will see in reviewing various posts here that some folks made it without a PEG and my hat's off to them. I don't know how they did it but they obviously managed.

Bill D.