Hi. PLEASE get one now. It's not about being able to afford losing a few pounds, it's about getting the proper nutrition so your body can fight this. My husband was VERY resistant to having one put in. Fortunately he finally agreed to have one put in 2 weeks before he started treatments. He didn't need it until week 4. He is now totally dependent on it. He does continue to make himself swallow sips of water 3 times a day but he would have never survived without it. Even with it in he has lost 30 lbs. He is 5' 9" and now weighs 143 lbs. Our RO said get it now because we don't want to have to stop treatment mid-way through to have to put one in. Best wishes to you.

Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2