Gretchen,
I have been down both roads, I had my PEG put in prior to my RT in 07 and it was not that big of a deal, sleep and wake up and its there. Whereas in 08 I had it put in after my microlaser surgery via the ole fluoroscope method, painful and wide awake the whole time, not fun. So get it now I would say.

smokeless tobacco user until 1999 SCC May 07 Left Tonsil Tonsilectomy 07,PEG IMRT & Erbitux Jun & Jul 07Peg out Aug07
Tumor L base of tongue Aug 08. MicroLaser Surgery and reconstruction of pharyngeal walls&PEG in Sept08,total glossectomy Dec08.