Edgar --

You need to meet with your cancer center's nutritionist and get some professional advice. Most CCC's really push their patients to get a PEG up front, before they get too debilitated. You have already lost as much weight as my husband did all through his treatment and you are just getting started. You need adequate nutrition and hydration to deal with the chemotherapy and radiation, your docs will not want to halt or take a break in treatment (it can reduce effectiveness) but will have to if you lose too much weight.

Most CCC's have a limit on how much weight they will let you lose before they esentially insist on a PEG - maybe 10% at most of your pre-treatment weight. What percentage have you lost?

Havng said that, some folks do get through without a gastric tube -- my husband had one put in and never used it -- but for others it was quite literally a lifesaver.

Talk to the nutritionist and get the full story -- also she/he will have advice on foods and liquid diets, there are a number of high-calorie liquids available, some are prescription.

Gail

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