How do I get rid of my feeding tube after head and neck cancer?

Removal of a feeding tube post treatment of head and neck cancer is the most desired request from our patients. The feeding tube called a PEG or GJ-tube inserted surgically into the stomach and serves a purpose to provide nutrition, hydration and medication while the body and tissues are healing from the treatment. Side effects following cancer treatment can include loss of taste (dysgeusia) and dry mouth (xerostomia). These side effects result in challenges for desiring to eat or drink. One patient once said to me "Lauren-imagine taking a bite of a cow patty and trying to move it around against sand paper and then swallow it". I really could not argue with that correlation. So what do we do? Well we start with anything the patient can tolerate. Typically ice chips and then move to water. From water we progress into liquid calories that may include blended shakes or caloric drinks. These recommendations are always specific to the patient and the swallowing study we have completed. 

In our program we love to see that a patient is able to not utilize the tube for 14-21 days and sustain or gain weight prior to removal of the tube. Every patient's journey is different. However, one thing is known. The patient who swallowed the most during treatment will likely get rid of their tube the quickest. There is a direct correlation between utilization of the swallowing musculature during treatment and decreased feeding tube dependency post treatment. We work closely with the team of radiation oncologist, oncologist, ENTs and the dietician to push the patient along in this journey. Support from children and partners will improve the outcomes of the patients motivation. If you are a patient trying to get rid of your feeding tube don't stop drinking and follow the advice of your speech pathologist who understands and treats head & neck cancer routinely. Just keep showing up!