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Has anyone made it through radiation and chemo without a feeding tube?
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Mar 4 3:13pm | Replies (22)Comment receiving replies
Would a tube inserted through the nose be possible?
Our medical team wanted to avoid stent & G- / J-tube to avoid infection & other complications. They were so accustomed to G & J tube that they didn’t even think to consider the one inserted through the nose. Because a friend had used the nasal tube, I was prompted to ask & they agreed that it would be a possible option.
Fortunately chemo & immunotherapy + hydrogen inhalation opened up his esophagus just in time so he made it back to oral nutrition without any tube. However, he never faced surgery so I’m not sure whether the nasal tube could work in that case.
A friend who also faced esophagus cancer used a nasal tube for 7 months.
Replies to "Would a tube inserted through the nose be possible? Our medical team wanted to avoid stent..."
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NG tubes are ok... but are a bit nasty since it's like having a perpetual sore throat... or very irritating at the least. The other problem is... if the esophageal tumor is pretty much blocking the esophagus... this NG tube won't pass down below this point and into the stomach. So a J or G tube is independent of what's going on in the esophagus... and as I said, can be a very long term solution.