In keeping with my vow to play nice OCF style, if you are getting radiation to your head, neck or throat, or if you are having surgery, you NEED a PEG. Now can TOUGH people do without what they NEED. Yes indeed. Unfilled needs do not necessarily result in death, but they are less than optimal. Plants NEED adequate sunshine, water, etc but we all see straggly specimens hanging in there. People NEED LOVE, but often times go without it.

David hit it on the head exactly in his laconic style. To me, getting a PEG meant LOSING to Cancer. Feeding tubes were for the terminally ill and I had watched more than my fair share of loved ones hooked up to PEGs as they were dying. Being able to choke down my Ensure Plus sip by sip with an intervening sip of selzter - taking a half an hour a can over the bathroom sink seemed a small price to pay at the time. I lost almost fourty pounds but I had such great physical fitness and lean muscle mass that health was not an issue. Even emaciated, I was stronger than most. Being Peg Free was my "Magic Feather" just like in the Dumbo movie of my youth that let the elephant with the big ears FLY. Ironically I was the dumbo for not getting my PEG before treatment.