Dear H, You mom will have some difficulty after surgery with swallowing and possibly even wanting to eat. The "normal" waiting time between end of surgery and beginning of radiation is 4 to 6 weeks according to our Oncologist. If she is going to have radiation, as soon after surgery as she can swallow, start having her eat everything she can, or have her drink calorie rich smoothies and shakes. Learn all you can about the peg feeding tube- it could save her life and everyone's sanity. John's was put in during his mouth surgery so he did not have to have 2 different surgeries. I don't know what the experience of others is, but with John's tongue surgery, the doc didn't want him to have anything by mouth but ice chips while he was in the hospital, so he got tube fed nutrition 24 hrs. a day while there. It was 12 days after surgery before John was given permission to attempt broth, tea, etc. by mouth. He worked up to pureed soups, mashed potatoes, slippery pastas, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, shakes and smoothies in the last few weeks before rad.began. During rad. he lost the ability to taste or swallow, so the peg kept him going. You really REALLY got to stay on top of the nutrition and hydration. Best luck for your Mom. Amy