 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | Keep in mind that it's not only the PEG itself but the treatment the potential PEG patient is having -- It is possible to get by without a PEG when taking radiation, but that's not so with extensive surgery, so sometimes we have a choice and sometimes we don't!
It would be far more constructive to remind people to keep on drinking and swallowing and opening mouth (to stave off trismus) when undergoing radiation. Although I had a PEG during radiation, and used it for nutrition, I drank my water and I took my meds orally, thereby preserving the swallowing -- I didn't know about trismus and that one snuck up on me!
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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