I would guess it has something to do with chances of infection and making patients keep up their swallowing practice and such-like, but I am sure he could clarify. It's definitely still something many of us need, whether short-term or long. It does seem that more patients have come on in the past couple years not getting a tube automatically than getting one automatically, as I did (though we knew I'd probably need it anyway).

((hugs))

Surgery 5/31/13
Tongue lesion, right side
SCC, HPV+, poorly differentiated
T1N0 based on biopsy and scan
Selective neck dissection 8/27/13, clear nodes
12/2/13 follow-up with concerns
12/3/13 biopsy, surgery, cancer returned
1/8/14 Port installed
PEG installed
Chemo and rads
2/14/14 halfway through carboplatin/taxotere and rads
March '14, Tx done, port out w/ complications, PEG out in June
2017: probable trigeminal neuralgia
Fall 2017: HBOT
Jan 18: oral surgery