Jamie, The recovery is sometimes slower for some, it sounds to me like she is right on track time wise. She will likely start to see improvement soon. Perhaps a specialist in the area could evaluate her swallowing and see what could be done to help. Some people need dialation to make the esophagus larger after treatments.

The edema is also a normal after effect. There are gentle massage techniques to relieve that as well. Lymphedema therapy is a specialty, ask her doctor for a referral to a trained lymphedema specialist (usually a physical therapist will have this as an added specialty)

This it the worst time in her course of treatments. Please reassure her that everything you mention is quite normal and WILL start to get better soon.

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.