We've talked a lot about the importance of swallowing through the pain (another useful tip from this site). I'll be sure to caution him again, but at the moment he is just pouring water into it to get used to using it so when he really needs it he won't have to think too much about it. He is still eating and drinking as normal...well, as normal as he could, considering how sick he was for a few days.

It is IMRT radiation... but the doctors told him they'd destroy 50% of his saliva glands, that he'd never be able to eat a steak again and would prob need help learning to swallow again. Not sure exactly what this means as far as where they are aiming the radiation or if this is normal, but I am hoping they are just preparing him for the worst case. At least they also told him they think he has an 80% chance of making it through so the light at the end of the tunnel may seem far away, but it is shining brightly.