 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | I believe one important aspect of the PEG question is that in the midst of all this stuf that is out of our control, comes the PEG and we do have some control! The PEG gets the focus of our attention because of that.
With regard to radiation vs surgery, my two recent surgeries needed a PEG as part of the recovery process because my throat was swelled to the point where I needed a "breathing PEG" (aka trach) in addition to the "food PEG".
As I pointed out in another thread, having the PEG installed prior to surgery meant that they DIDN'T install a naso-gastric tube and suture it to the inside of my nose (Ouch, fer sure!).
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.
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