Husband Refusing Pegtube Worried

My husband is starting radiation and chemo for tongue cancer.  He had the surgery and one lymph node had cancer and is refusing a pegtube against all of the dr's advice I am so worried that he will not be able to get in enough food or nutrition.  He is 37 and keeps telling me he will be able to do it but what if he can not.  I am supportive and want to think that he can but I can not help worring that he may realy need this. I would greatly apprecaite any advice.

Thank you, Cathy

On 5/20/2007 Salmc99 wrote:

My husband is starting radiation and chemo for tongue cancer.  He had the surgery and one lymph node had cancer and is refusing a pegtube against all of the dr's advice I am so worried that he will not be able to get in enough food or nutrition.  He is 37 and keeps telling me he will be able to do it but what if he can not.  I am supportive and want to think that he can but I can not help worring that he may realy need this. I would greatly apprecaite any advice.

Thank you, Cathy

My mother in law's situation was very similar,except she wanted the tube because it was too painful to eat. She had previously had one after the initial surgery but began eating within 2-3 months and had it removed. Within 2 weeks of radiation/chemo she stopped eating and the tube was put back in... Is your husband able to drink? If so, the supplemental drinks work well, my mother in law has been using them since January and has been able to sustain her weight with little change. You can also make high protein drinks from just about anything (use fortified milk products to increase calorie count up. Cold seemed to work well for her for awhile.As much as he doesnt want it, he eventually may need to do it!

Good luck for a quick recovery!   Dottie

Hi Cathy,

My husband wanted to send this note to you.  He is through with his treatment by about 1 month.  He is still on the tube, but is starting to eat again.  Here is what he said.  Please pass this on to your husband.

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On 5/20/2007 Salmc99 wrote:

My husband is starting radiation and chemo for tongue cancer.  He had the surgery and one lymph node had cancer and is refusing a pegtube against all of the dr's advice I am so worried that he will not be able to get in enough food or nutrition.  He is 37 and keeps telling me he will be able to do it but what if he can not.  I am supportive and want to think that he can but I can not help worring that he may realy need this. I would greatly apprecaite any advice.

Thank you, Cathy

I had tounge cancer with radiation and cemo, I tried for three weeks to eat my throat hurt too much to swallow,  I finally got a pegtuge put in it was the best thing for me I still lost 60 lbs but at least I could eat.  My ENT doctor did not want me to get one he said that I would forget how to swallow, well I did and it took me three months for me to finally swallow food almost normal my throat shrank and I have no saliva glands now.  I hope my story gives you some idea on what to exspect.

 David

I don't know if you're experiencing dry mouth or throat, or have any oral lesions, but when my mom developed a lymphoma in her throat, she had terrible dry mouth and throat, so we developed these aloe drop candies that were tremendously successful.  If you think it might be of help, check out aloedrops.com.  God bless.

On 6/19/2007 David45 wrote:

 

On 5/20/2007 Salmc99 wrote:

My husband is starting radiation and chemo for tongue cancer.  He had the surgery and one lymph node had cancer and is refusing a pegtube against all of the dr's advice I am so worried that he will not be able to get in enough food or nutrition.  He is 37 and keeps telling me he will be able to do it but what if he can not.  I am supportive and want to think that he can but I can not help worring that he may realy need this. I would greatly apprecaite any advice.

Thank you, Cathy

I had tounge cancer with radiation and cemo, I tried for three weeks to eat my throat hurt too much to swallow,  I finally got a pegtuge put in it was the best thing for me I still lost 60 lbs but at least I could eat.  My ENT doctor did not want me to get one he said that I would forget how to swallow, well I did and it took me three months for me to finally swallow food almost normal my throat shrank and I have no saliva glands now.  I hope my story gives you some idea on what to exspect.

 David

I have read a lot about this because I did not want it either.  But you can loose a lot of wieght and nutrition from this.  I only weigh 145 pounds and have a high matabolism.  I can not afford to loose 100 pounds as I have read so many times.  I offer two things.

 1.)  The best thing would be to convince him to stop being so stubborn!  He must understand that what he decides also affects the ones close to him.  The worry and concerns are different, but they both have an emotional toll.

2.)  Assuming he sticks with his original decision, get him to drink Ensure or boost.  This is a liquid that you can purchase in any grocery and will give him the nurtients he will loose during treaments.  

 I buy frozen strawberries and thaw as I need them for the day.  Then I blend some in with the ensure in a blender.  This takes the awefull vitaman taste away, so that I can drink it.  It actually tastes good that way.  I buy the 350 calorie one so that I get the most I can from it.  VS. the normal 250 calorie one.