OK, I infer that a Power Port is a port into one's circulatory system, not one's digestive system.

I kept my PEG for about two months post-rad, but didn't use it much the last month except to flush it with water -- The Gastro-Doc wanted me to be sure I wouldn't need to have it put back in! Of course, the quicker one can start swallowing one's liquid food, the better that will be!

The Gastro-Doc, hovering with the nurse over me on the exam lounge, gave me the choice of $$ outpatient surgery w/anesthesia or the Yank and Leave Now option -- Forewarned by reading this group, I chose the latter and it was over in seconds -- A brief sharp pain and that was it for me -- Strangest thing was that when he pulled the tube and it was going away from me I felt like the **tube** should hurt, like it was part of my body and still connected to me nerves -- It all healed just fine (except when I bend over and my shirt gets wet...) laugh

My PEG was my friend, but I don't miss it!

BTW, some of us experience weight loss and some of us don't, and I really don't know why that differs. Chemo? General health? Surgical damage? Radiation damage? Genetics?

In my case, I held my weight to within a few pounds all during radiation and for months afterward (7x350=2450cal/day @ 170-174lbs). After I was on a mix of solid & liquid foods for a while, and my appettite had not returned but I felt somewhat stronger, I decided to cut back by a few hundred calories and lose some weight, which I did slowly, a few pounds per week.

Others report having no choice in the matter, they just flat lost weight throughout the process.

Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.