Hi Alex,
Andreas views are bang on target as if he can swallow his saliva without too many prolems and does not choke when sipping thru a straw he should do so. If the food passage is not used it may just narrow and close up as it happened in my case. Regarding the peg feed ( I have been on one for over four years now )- one can go on through one life with it. Its a matter of getting used to the fact that you will not be able to enjoy some of the stuff one used gorge on. I have been on a total liquid diet as I mentioned for over four years now, but thanks to a lot of innovations in my food - I am as healthy as I was before I contracted the cancer of the larynx. I still work out at the gym and have to get in my four km of running ebery morning. So you see - the peg is just what a normal person does -chew and swallow - in this case the food is liquidised and goes directly into the stomach.
I am no doctor but have been able to understand on how to cope with my peg in all these years.

I think he should swallow if he can.
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ANANTH- survivor of cancer of the larynx in stage 4 without any surgery but side effects because of an overdose of radiation. Diagnosed in April 2000 - declared cancer free in January 2004.