I agree with David; swallowing is a learned skill to a degree, and it's incredibly easy to forget how to do it. It doesn't take very long before that will be that case, and dependancy on the gastric tube is way too easy to start, and really really hard to break.

Reading through the forums you'll see many examples of people having tubes for months and months post treatment. While I have no doubt that they neded them, I can only speak to my own experiences.

I did not have one, and I don't regret it one bit. I had a G tube after surgery, and I was determined to avoid a repeat during radiation.

It hurt to swallow, a lot. I had the typical mouth sores, mucous problems, both compounded by rather extensive post surgery swelling. There were days that I would take liquid morphine, then gargle with lidocane, and THEN take small sips of Resource 2.0 ( a liquid nutition drink). It hurt that much to swallow.

It got worse for a while after radiation too. By three weeks out, I didn't have to take painkillers every time, and the sores were starting to go away. Within 6 weeks, the sores were healed, my taste was returning, and I was able to swallow. Without pain, and without speech therapy.

It's hard to tell an adult child anything (believe me, I know all too well) but maybe if the advice comes from a fellow cancer survivor/s, it may be easier to take
Wayne