I had two feeding tubes, which I used on and off during several treatments, recovery since 2009. My current one was in since 2010. Had the first yanked out, and a month later had a recurrence, so needed one again due to an already compromised moth, throat. Actually, my first was put in without my knowledge while in or after ICU, I forget, and was just because of chemo, which can effect your mouth more acutely with mucocits, infections in several days, not like radiation. I can eat everything after not needing a tube anymore, steak, pork, hamburger, pizza, most everything else, but it tends to be fatter cuts of meat, sauces, of with butter. I really don't think about it, knowing my taste, swallowing, and cooking capabilities. Each case is different, extent of surgery, amount of radiation, and if bilaterally or ipsilateral, location of radiation, radiation dosage to salivary glands, medical condition, dental health, comorbidities for the doctor to suggest. Another factor is pain, which you may have more with no tube, can effect healing, but that can be managed with prescriptions, but maybe a higher dosage.

Having a tube placed during treatment also runs risks from surgery itself, and possible risk of infection due to a lowered immune system, and stoppage of treatment for a day or two, which is not really good either. Some doctors may rather put in nasal tube in if it's less than six weeks or so, and the trend now is no peg. Sounds like the old thought with exercise, "no pain, go gain" lol.