Kathy,
Sorry to hear about your friend, but feeding tubes help patients maintain nutrition throughout treatments (+medications) and without good nutrition levels we don’t heal and recover as well. It's just another tool to help get through swallowing difficulties.
I had a feeding tube shoved in my stomach for 3 ½ years while dealing with oral cancer surgery and ongoing dramas caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments. No doubt whatsoever it’s tough, but for most people it’s temporary.
Best wishes to your friend for a speedy recovery.
