I had a partial gloss.,neck dissection and radiation + 5 cycles of cisplatin. Its been 8 weeks since my last radiation treatment. I've been on a PEG tube and virtually unable to swalow since about half way thru the radiation. The ENT doc sais I should wait 8 more weeks, ( a total of 16) and if there is no progress on the swallowing by then he'll refer me for some kind of scope that goes all the way into the esophagus to try to determine what the problem is. Depending on what they find dilations or a botox injectin to the UES may be indicated.

Is it reasonable to wait 16 weeks after teatment ends with no swallowing to get serious about it? Is it worth it to try to avoid the procedure(s)? Should I be getting a second opinion about this?

Mike, 53 yo, scc rt ant toungue, 2 nodes, excision 12/08, reexcised + rt nd 05/09, 60 Gy imrt + 5 cisplatin 07/09