Hi Donna - you're right to want to do something about your issues with eating now - waiting only adds to the problem of swallowing - it doesn't help it. Loss may be inevitable as time goes by but you don't know that yet. Another thing to consider is that loss is in fact not inevitable - that with proper evaluation and treatment you may have the potential to improve your circumstances.
You're jumping the gun on the dilitation - first you need a modifed barium swallow study to see just what's going on in there. The MBS is a painless procedure where they actually watch you eat and drink barium to see how the muscles of your swallow are moving (kind of cool!) That test will give you and your doctors the information needed to determine what step is next for you.
Swallowing relies on muscle function and building up pressure to move the food back and down - you likely have issues with both of those - assessment will determine if there are exercises that you can do to strengthen those radiated muscles and help rebuild pressure for safer, more comfortable and long lasting swallowing!
Getting a full assessment of your swallow and a plan will only affirm in your RO's mind what a fighter you are!!!
Good luck!