Hi Barbara,
My partner is at similar stage - just completed 11 of 30 rads. He has sore throat and finds rinsing/gargling and then swallowing a thick liquid paracetamol mix helps numb things a bit before eating. Not a nice journey to be on - but with the support on this forum - you are sure to get through.
All the best
Kitty

Partner (never smoker, light drinker age 56)
lymph node noticed 7/20/12
DX SSC tonsil 8/8/12, T2 N2a M0 HPV 16 +,
tonsillectomy 8/15/12
neck dissection 9/25/12
IMRT (30) started 11/2/12 First Cisplatin 11/5/12, Second 11/20/12. Finished 12/13/12.
Follow ups - all clear