I had 7 weekly treatments with Cisplatin, and 7 weeks, five days per week of radiation. No surgery. I'm 16 months out now and am doing pretty well. Some do worse. Some do better. I had a PEG tube for 4 months. I was lucky there. But be prepared for many months of total misery. As the doctors kept telling me: "you'll be miserable but you'll get throught it." I was and I did. I eat most things now but still have oral issues (swallowing, dryness, tasting, tongue issues) but overall get along ok and lead a largely normal life.