feeding tube

Hi.

My brother-in-law's doctor is talking about starting radiation. He's had two cycles of chemo. As handle it no problem not sick in fact he's gained weight since his dx thirty pounds had lost 40 before dx. My question is doctor wants feeding tube in before they start radiation. Is that the norm for most everyone he's doing so good eating right now. I think he would lose weight and strength with tube. Any feedback would be great is doctors appt is this friday maybe there's aquestion I could ask her that I'm not thinking of.

good health to all  !!!  thanks Joe

 

On 6/8/2009 newcomer wrote:

Hi.

My brother-in-law's doctor is talking about starting radiation. He's had two cycles of chemo. As handle it no problem not sick in fact he's gained weight since his dx thirty pounds had lost 40 before dx. My question is doctor wants feeding tube in before they start radiation. Is that the norm for most everyone he's doing so good eating right now. I think he would lose weight and strength with tube. Any feedback would be great is doctors appt is this friday maybe there's aquestion I could ask her that I'm not thinking of.

good health to all  !!!  thanks Joe

My mom has the same thing.  Her appetite was crazy, she ate to the pt i was very shock how she could consume that much...

Pls have the Feeding Tube now cuz after radiation he will 180 deg changing.  My family waited a week later to do it and it was tough on her ( started with a N-tube prior going to Gtube).

Victoria

 

 

On 6/8/2009 newcomer wrote:

Hi.

My brother-in-law's doctor is talking about starting radiation. He's had two cycles of chemo. As handle it no problem not sick in fact he's gained weight since his dx thirty pounds had lost 40 before dx. My question is doctor wants feeding tube in before they start radiation. Is that the norm for most everyone he's doing so good eating right now. I think he would lose weight and strength with tube. Any feedback would be great is doctors appt is this friday maybe there's aquestion I could ask her that I'm not thinking of.

good health to all  !!!  thanks Joe

Joe,

Feeding tubes are quite common and it's a lot better to have them inserted prior to treatments opposed to having to interrupt treatments a few weeks into the program to have it done. 

Your BIL could feasibly continue to eat as long as he's able to sustain himself with ample calories and nutrition thus never actually have to rely on the tube, but it'll be in place if/when he does need it.  The instructions on those are to flush daily if they're not used for food supplements, so they're simple to maintain. 

My husband had a peg tube last year throughout tonsil radiation, then had it removed sometime afterwards as his swallowing improved enough he was able to eat 3 meals a day.  His cancer returned early this year in a slightly different place requiring lymph-node surgery which interrupted his swallowing once again, so now he has his second one.  Doctors are prepping him for Cyberknife Radiosurgery to begin in a few weeks and we're finding comfort knowing the peg tube is already in place.

We think they're life-savers!

Sure hope all goes well with your BIL and best to you also.  June

 

 

If they are considering surgery later, he might be better off with the tube. Radiation often makes it difficult to swallow due to the burn. The oncologist repeatedly told me how important it was to keep the weight up if he was going to be a viable surgical candidate. If he can eat, he doesn't have to use it, but it's there if he needs it.

 

On 6/8/2009 newcomer wrote:

Hi.

My brother-in-law's doctor is talking about starting radiation. He's had two cycles of chemo. As handle it no problem not sick in fact he's gained weight since his dx thirty pounds had lost 40 before dx. My question is doctor wants feeding tube in before they start radiation. Is that the norm for most everyone he's doing so good eating right now. I think he would lose weight and strength with tube. Any feedback would be great is doctors appt is this friday maybe there's aquestion I could ask her that I'm not thinking of.

good health to all  !!!  thanks Joe

Joe, I had mine installed prior to radiation , chemo and surgery  thank God I did because afterwards I had lots of trouble swallowing. The tube kept me nourished although a pain it was well worth it. Keep the faith and God bless

Me too, Joe.  I had my port and j-tube put in the end of February 2004 and they began chemo/radiation 3 weeks later.  I am glad they did it that way too.  The port was wonderful and doctors and nurses used it for weeks after my surgery for blood tests, etc.   I couldn't swallow either during my radiation treatments and the feeding tube kept my weight up and keep me hydrated.  He can get liquids through the tube if his swallowing becomes troublesome.   I kept the feeding tube for about 5 months after surgery.  They removed the feeding tube I think that October and took the port out that December of 2004. 

It's a tough road, but 5 years later I can say it was all worth it.  Have your brother-in-law watch the tube.  Radiation made my feeding tube deteriorate and I had to have it replaced once.  It may not affect his, but have him watch just in case.  It depends where they point the radiation.

Best wishes to you all.

hi Joe,

from what i can remember, me and your BIL had a similar case with regrads to treatment and all...i didn't have a feeding tube until after my surgery and it was removed prior to me leaving the hospital.  i am betting the dr. wants it in case of pain and dificulty eat once radiation begins.  everyone is different, but i didn't have a problem til maybe the last week of radiation and 2 weeks following.  i was prescribed meds for pain and healing and everything was fine.  it was not easy, but it was tolerable.

lots of luck to your BIL and God bless!

Joe - my husband has two strictures that has prevented him from swallowing at all.  He would have been in big trouble had he not had the feeding tube.  We have gone to MD Anderson 2 times and headed back for the third  stretch.  It is a very difficult process.  Radiation is so hard on the throat area.  We had an appt. yesterday with the radiation oncologist and he told us it will take a year before things are back to "normal" - whatever that is!  : )   Good luck and God Bless you! 

My father was also still eating when he got his tube in. Now I am glad we did it while he was stronger.  However, he has gained weight with all the nutrients he gets through the tube and looks great.  You would never guess looking at him that he has EC.  The tube is easy to maintain. Also my uncle had ALS and had a tube.  He also gained weight and looked healthy other than the effects of ALS. 

Joe,

everyone is different....

i am not sure how old your bro inlaw is or his current health, other than the EC, but i know i did fine without the feeding tube and i am thankful that i did not need to have it until surgery.  i am only 37 (36 at time of treatment and surgery) and i have 2 young children at home.  there were a lot of things we hid from them while i was going through everything and i know a feeding tube would have complicated things further.

i think if your bro inlaw should go with what makes him comfortable.