Dan, this time I must stand on the side of Mark and Gary about the feeding tube issue. I lost 15 pounds without a tube but I managed to gain back all of if within 6 months. We should not blame the doctors for not inserting the tube because I am sure they should be monitoring a patient's eating and nutrition problem closely. From what I have read in Danielle's posts, I feel that her mom is able to eat although with difficulty. Having a PEG tube may sound easy and painless, but it is not a natural way of eating. It may induce some hard feeling on a patient too. There can be some complications if the PEG tube is used for a long time. I don't mean to stand against using one but I do believe that if it is a must, the doctor will make the suggestion or even turn it into an order.

Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/01.