Feeding tube and tube feeding

Proper nutrition is important for children, especially for those with cancer. It gives them more energy, helps them feel better about themselves, improves their immune system and helps them tolerate their treatment. Sometimes your child can find it difficult or impossible to eat normally, for instance if your child is very young, has a very sore mouth or if the food is not digested properly due to abdominal pain and diarrhea. In that case, tube feeding can help.

A feeding tube is a flexible line that runs through the nose to the stomach or intestine. The tube is affixed to your child's cheek with plasters. As an additional advantage, some medicines can be administered through the feeding tube. Your child can usually eat normally in addition to tube feeding.

Your child can bathe, shower, go outside and to school despite the need for a feeding tube. With a special backpack for the pump and the formula, your child can do whatever they usually do.

The brochure Feeding tube and tube feeding formula provides more information on how to insert the tube, on the formula and on how to deal with the feeding tube. Please note that this brochure is currently only available in Dutch.

On our website about nutrition for children with cancer, you can also find more information about tube feeding.

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