I think Dee is right. I think they are just being very careful at this point. I think they don't want anything to open up because someone swallowed too soon. I think they are also worried about aspirating and pneumonia. I knew a lady who got pneumonia twice because she ate too soon. They would't let me swallow until I had a barium swallow test at 3 weeks, although I cheated at 3 weeks and drank some water. I was given the go ahead for liquids and soft foods after 4 weeks.

Lynn

Stage 3, N0, M0 oral tongue cancer survivor, 85-90% of tongue removed, neck disection, left tonsil removed, chemo/radiation treatments, surgery 11/03, raditation ended 1/04, lung mets discovered 4/04,