My husband started with lumps in the neck too. It seems to be a fairly common occurrence. He was a big and strong man, so the diagnosis was hard for him.

You may need a feeding tube during treatment but it may not be long term depending on your ability to swallow post radiation. My husband had one for one and a half years post radiation because the scarring in his throat was severe. He managed to do all kind of things — including working for hours in his pottery studio (really just our garage) on a daily basis.

Maybe you can find out if you could have a visiting nurse at home. We had that I found her weekly visits, though short, very reassuring.

Please post if you have questions. I have you on my mind and I wish you a smooth journey through your treatment.