Hi Laura,
Glad to hear that Hopkins has come up with a plan. I would suggest that you ask your doctors whether there is any benefit to chemoradiotherapy vs radiotherapy alone. If you do a search of the news section of the OCF site for 'chemoradiotherapy', you will find a number of articles related to Phase III clinical trials that seem to show improved results with a combination of the two modalities. See
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/news/story.asp?newsId=430
for example.

I'd encourage you to gain some weight before the treatments start. Based on advice from members of this board, I gained 15 lbs. before losing 40 during treatment. You should meet with an oncological nutritionist to get advice on how many calories you will require each day and which formula would best suit your needs. I found that because I was taking so many painkillers, that I needed a formula with a lot of fiber built in. You may want to supplement with benefiber or some other water-soluble fiber that you can put down the PEG.

I would also suggest that you have the PEG installed before the treatments start. I tried to do without one and ended up getting fluids via IV because I was so dehydrated and couldn't swallow. Getting the PEG in that state was particularly unpleasant. In retrospect, I wish I had it right from the beginning.

One last suggestion, make sure you see your dentist before the treatments start. Radiation is tough on the teeth and preventive dental work might save problems down the road.

Best of luck with your treatments. - Sheldon