I am sorry to hear about your husband. Head and neck cancers are so difficult to deal with. Firstly I must say that its a big positive that your husbands cancer was caught early, that greatly affects the prognosis. Second on your question of the feeding tube, my mother was diagnosed with tongue cancer in November - it had been there since May and the hospital missed it - but thats another story! She had a feeding tube fitted before her op to remove and reconstruct her tongue - she is 8 weeks now after the op and due to undergo radiotherapy - she stil cannot swallow more than 3 sips of water an hour- she has not eaten or drank for 8 weeks - the feeding tube is her life line. When this is initially put in it is very painful, but now its fine. The surgeon told us that they saved the hypoglossal nerve which controls swallowing, but she has still been told that she may have to endure tube feeding for the rest of her life - doubtful, but very upsetting, but at least she is still alive! Your husband will be very sore undergoing the radiotherapy, thats why they need the feeding tube, but all should return to normal after the effects of the treatment.