Michells,
The CT is for treatment planning. Simulation is done on the LINAC. So that may be why the treatment plan isn't solidified yet. 7-8 weeks seems excessive - most of us had 5 weeks or so (of radiation anyway.

IMRT has far fewer quality of life issues. It's the same amount od radiation, just highly targeted and tissue sparing. She may recover most of her salivary function and they can avoid thyroid damage to a large degree.

I had IMRT (I insisted on it) and I am doing great today. One word of caution - they had better be experienced with it, as in they use it all the time, and have a good track record (i.e., as in CCC).

Some RO's prefer XRT if the cancer has an unknown primary or is poorly differentiated. You need to grill them on the risk/benefit issues of both types.

She will probably need a PEG regardless of what radiation she gets.

Oral cancer is not passed genetically so family history shouldn't be a factor. If she was exposed to second hand smoke - that could be a familial environmental factor.

Here's a link to PNI:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BUM/is_12_83/ai_n8704905