Jimbo,do you had a peg tube? Some have made it through without one but most have needed it as swallowing becomes very difficult or (in my case) impossible. I could barely swallow water and had to pulverise pills and take them through the tube. After treatment you may need to see a speech therapist to relearn swallowing as the muscles forget how.

David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.