Tonsil Cancer, Need Peg After Gastric-Bypass

Hi, I am new to the group. I am 49 and have just received diagnosis of stage IV tonsil with mets to small portion of base of tounge and 2 of 4 lymph nodes.  In 2002 I had a gastric bypass. Now, I am told by oncologist I need a PEG tube.  Doctors say this treatment, radiology for 7 weeks and chemo for 9 weeks is hard to get through without a feeding tube.  That is fine with me but now the gastric surgeons question whether I can have a PEG due to my gastric bypass.  In fact I was told last friday that the gastroenterologist at my hospital WOULD NOT give me a PEG and they canceled my surgery to receive it.  I did call my surgeon who preformed my gastric-bypass "he is  5 hours away from me now", and he said it is a very easy procedure to do.  He said to just put the tube in my "by-passed" old stomach and that he has done it several times before on an out-patient basis. 

OK, now have any of you out there had this same situation?  I never thought I would be begging a Doctor to put a feeding tube in me but I guess that is where I am at.  Please let me know if there is any information about this.......and thank God for this site.  I look at it and read it everyday and think to myself if all these other people and get through it then I can too.

Greetings! Male diagnosed with stage 4 SCC of the tongue and right lymph node in December. Had Fu5, Taxotere and Cysplatin for 3 treatments (taken off 5FU as it mimicked a heart attack) and Carboplatin for the last 4 treatments through chest port. Just finished 6 weeks of radiation and have to go for 14 more "Booster" treatments of reduced radation/reduced field treatments. Underwent surgery for right radial neck dissection which removed the lymph nodes which had contained the cancer. The PEG tube I got in December has been a lifesaver as there were many weeks I was too weak and too sick to go near food. I was always thin, never weighing more than 154 pounds at 5' 10", so weight loss is a big factor. The PEG tube is invaluable. As for your situation, cancer changes us and what we were takes us a lot longer to get back to, but you will if you want to. Face it. Fight It. Survive it. You can make it through. The good news is that there is so much more available to us now than 10 years ago. Our survival rate is very high-just follow the plan and get your PEG Tube while you are still strong. It is the best choice I made in my fight. One Love

there also something called a j tube i read about that goes past your stomach but im sure the doctors must know about that

 

On 6/3/2008 psiplex wrote:

Greetings! Male diagnosed with stage 4 SCC of the tongue and right lymph node in December. Had Fu5, Taxotere and Cysplatin for 3 treatments (taken off 5FU as it mimicked a heart attack) and Carboplatin for the last 4 treatments through chest port. Just finished 6 weeks of radiation and have to go for 14 more "Booster" treatments of reduced radation/reduced field treatments. Underwent surgery for right radial neck dissection which removed the lymph nodes which had contained the cancer. The PEG tube I got in December has been a lifesaver as there were many weeks I was too weak and too sick to go near food. I was always thin, never weighing more than 154 pounds at 5' 10", so weight loss is a big factor. The PEG tube is invaluable. As for your situation, cancer changes us and what we were takes us a lot longer to get back to, but you will if you want to. Face it. Fight It. Survive it. You can make it through. The good news is that there is so much more available to us now than 10 years ago. Our survival rate is very high-just follow the plan and get your PEG Tube while you are still strong. It is the best choice I made in my fight. One Love

I am so happy for you.  My husband was diagnosed with stage IV tonsil cancer one month ago and stilll had not started treatments except for the feeding tube and the "bullet" markings.  We have received a second opinion and he probably will start next Mon.  We are terrified.  We had heard that the mixture of 5FU, cysplatin, and Taxotere could be dangerous.  Something about the cysplatin.  But we are on our way to Morgantown for a second opinion on that tomorrow.  I just wish they had started his treatment sooner.  We've waited 1 month now but finally.  His has not spread - one swollen node.  They have put the feeding tube in as they say he will probably need it because of pain in swollening, nausea, and sometimes the food will go down into your lung.  I would like to ask you honestly.  Is the pain that terrible.  He is to have 4 courses of chemo - 1 course following by 14 days of reprieve, then another, etc.  He will have 30 days of radiation which will probably be at the same time.  For the person who wrote you the message - if this doesn't work there are other alternatives - which you should try to avoid.  Just think, this is not for life.   It's like childbirth, it eventually stops and all is well.  And you don't suffer 9 months either.

I'm glad you apparently did so well.  How much work did you miss??  What are your chances of it recurring.  I understand that if you can handle that regime that chances of  it recurring are almost nil.   Could you answer some of my questions immediately.  He starts Fri. or Mon.

Thanks. 

 

 

 

On 6/3/2008 ShihTzux2 wrote:

Hi, I am new to the group. I am 49 and have just received diagnosis of stage IV tonsil with mets to small portion of base of tounge and 2 of 4 lymph nodes.  In 2002 I had a gastric bypass. Now, I am told by oncologist I need a PEG tube.  Doctors say this treatment, radiology for 7 weeks and chemo for 9 weeks is hard to get through without a feeding tube.  That is fine with me but now the gastric surgeons question whether I can have a PEG due to my gastric bypass.  In fact I was told last friday that the gastroenterologist at my hospital WOULD NOT give me a PEG and they canceled my surgery to receive it.  I did call my surgeon who preformed my gastric-bypass "he is  5 hours away from me now", and he said it is a very easy procedure to do.  He said to just put the tube in my "by-passed" old stomach and that he has done it several times before on an out-patient basis. 

OK, now have any of you out there had this same situation?  I never thought I would be begging a Doctor to put a feeding tube in me but I guess that is where I am at.  Please let me know if there is any information about this.......and thank God for this site.  I look at it and read it everyday and think to myself if all these other people and get through it then I can too.

You can do it.  I've had 2 cancers and I made it through chemo and radiation both times but it was not as serious as yours.

I can't give you any information about the feeding tube.  My husband has tonsil cancer, stage 4, 2 nodes involved.  He doesn't drink, smoke, dip, nor anything like that.  My husband starts treatment Fri.  They will use Taxotere, 5FU, & cysplatin, and then change towards the end of the treatment to something else.  Later they take out the nodes..  I'm terrified.  I can't live without him.  And, of course, he will have radiation also.  I've forgotten the order.

I wish I had found this site earlier..

My husband had his feeding tube put in 2 weeks ago, but then his treatment got delayed but of course we've just left it in.  There is a man in town that just finished treatment for tonsil cancer 2 months ago.  He did not use a feeding tube and he did great.  But he did lose 80 pounds but has gained it back.

Put it in God's hands.  STAY IN TOUCH