Any needed a feeding tube during chemo and immunotherapy?

Many! When I was dx'd in March 2020 with stage 3 (T3N1M0) adenocarcinoma at the GEJ... I could barely swallow anything! My doctors installed a J tube a week later... still 3 weeks before my chemoradiation treatments would begin. By the time my first treatment started I could not swallow a half teaspoon of water! So I needed the J tube to live. I ended up keeping the J tube for 8 months, 4 before surgery... 4 after. It is just a tool to use to help you on your EC journey... use it when it is needed... let it idle when not needed. No rules... other than flush with a bit of water to be sure it is always running clear. I stopped using mine the last 7 weeks leading up to surgery because my treatments shrank my solid tumor enough that I could half decently swallow once again. I just pushed a little water thru it daily for maybe a minute.
It pops out in less than a minute in the doctors office when it is no longer needed.
Gary

I've had one since February. I didn't have enough opening initially because of the tumor and then later because of scarring from proton radiation. I'm being treated at MD Anderson and leave tomorrow for a visit. A PET/CT is planned and an EUS/dilation also. If the dilation is successful enough, it'll be removed. If not, it'll be replaced, as the opening tab has broken off. It also seems to have become sluggish. A friend of mine who's an oncologist (not mine) said they're like children - necessary but full of problems... 🙂

Hi I had my j tube for 7 months. Had my j tube because I couldn’t eat or drink anything my tumor had blocked off most of my esophagus so nothing would go through. It was put in before my chemo treatments started. I had 4 treatments every other week for 2 months. Needed to gain weight before surgery I had lost 45 lbs. I did gain 20 lbs back before surgery it was definitely a good thing for me. Waited 5 weeks then had surgery. I did not have any issues with my j tube. I flushed it 3 times a day before feedings after feedings and once between feedings. Keeping it clean is very important also get hydration from flushing. After surgery I kept j tube for another month until I could eat enough food to keep weight on it helped tremendously. I’m 10 months post surgery. I still eat smaller meals I eat 4 meals a day but I feel good walking and exercising to get my stamina and strength back. I’m pretty much back to myself. Just so grateful for my oncologist, surgeons and nurses also my nutritionist. They were awesome. Also my family they were amazing also. As for me I was always positive and wasn’t going to let this cancer beat me without a fight. Hope this helps wishing you the best. Scott

I have the same question…My husband starts chemo on the 28th. It has been day to day on whether anything will go down. He has lost 30+ pounds. I think a tube needs to be inserted for the bad days. He is reluctant. I’d sure like to see him in better health to begin his chemo journey. Please keep communication going because we are so new at this and need encouragement. TY…Sue

@cancersucks1953
My husband got a feeding tube when he spent 2 months in the hospital post esophagectomy. Hes still on it 4 months past that. It is saving his life. He has a whole other set of issues but this formula is keeping his weight stable. There is a backpack to be mobile but luckily hes on it overnight.

@donnawmsbrady, I hope you saw the helpful posts from fellow members. You might also find these related discussions helpful:

- Emotional implications of having a feeding tube https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/emotional-implications-of-having-a-feeding-tube/

- Caring For Someone who Uses A Feeding Tube https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-caring-for-a-feeding-tube-patient/

- Feeding tube patients: What's your experience?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/feeding-tube-patients/

Donna, when does your husband start chemo and immunotherapy? How are you doing?

@colleenyoung Thanks! I wish we'd had that we'd had that collection of resources six months or so ago. I've been on one since early March. In fact, I'm on my second, the first having been replaced ten days ago, when the opening tab broke off. I also resisted at first and lost about 30 pounds on a soft diet, and I'm short. I've regained about 10. I'm not totally dependent. In fact, I eat a pastry and a couple of cups of coffee every morning. At 6 months, my PET and EUS + biopsies showed me cancer free, but I have a stricture about a third of the way down, courtesy of the proton radiation. I've had one dilation and I'm due for another on 11/13. I may need a couple more. Timing and working it in with a normal life is the main aggravation now. An oncologist friend (not my doc) compared them to raising a difficult child. You get used to it... 🙂

@cancersucks1953

Hi I had a j tube placed before my chemo treatments started. I couldn’t eat anything or swallow liquids very well. I had lost 45 lbs. I needed to put weight on before surgery also. It helped me tremendously so I put 20 lbs back on before surgery. I did most of my feedings overnight. Just keep your tube flushed I flushed mine 3 times a day before and after feedings and once more during the day. Hope this helps wishing you the best. Scott

My husband did! His tumor is right where the stomach and esophagus meet. He lost 25 lbs cuz nothing would go through, getting increasingly worse as the weeks wore on. I pureed and strained food for him but nothing worked. The feeding tube is a blessing. He isn't falling around and has regained 10 lbs. He hasn't even started treatment yet. Do it. It's hard at first to get used to doing it and kind of nauseated him at first but he is okay with it now. He has had it one month. Good luck!