Robintexas,

These days, they like patients to swallow on their own as much as possible, as long as there are no prohibitions from surgeries or other matters preventing such or effecting your weight. Back the day, and i’m only talking 10 years ago, it was recommended to get a feeding tube! They came up with some study that feeding tube patients became more dependent on the tube than someone who did not use one or used it less often, but It did make things somewhat easier for me, but still, I lost 130lbs from dysphagia and other illnesses caused by chemo as I went through one week of induction chemo and suffered major illnesses like septic shock! It took almost a year to recover when they found a recurrence, so this this time i had radiation, no chemo! The story continues for 10 more years with recurrences, but I’m currently cancer free as of January!

Previously, they often radiated both sides of the head and neck. Now, hopefully, it’s not necessary, and just zap the required areas! That’s more likely to happen under clinical trials for reduced radiation.

Good luck!