I had 35 rounds of radiation. 5 days a week for 7 weeks. ( plus 3 chemo treatments) I started my 1st round around Christmas and went till mid Feb. It was HARD on my throat. After the treatments I could not talk for a few weeks and could not swallow at all for 5 months. I was able to start swallowing after they stretched my esophagus and they would not do that until after my first PET scan after treatment to see if cancer free. They waited until May to do the PET because they wait until the radiation cools down or they will not be able to tell if you are actually cancer free. I am going to give it to you straight. IT IS HARD..... The radiation messed up my throat on the outside but even worse on the inside. Not everybody is the same but it is HARD on everybody. I had to have a feeding tube because everything tasted bad and then it got so I couldn't swallow. I was going downhill fast so they put in the feeding tube and I hated it but had to have it to live. (if your husband gets one order him Boost Very High Calorie drinks or he will never get enough nutrition. They don't sell it locally or give it to you at the doctors office. Many of them don't even know it exist. It is 530 calories which means he only has to do 4 feedings a day to get over 2000 calories. (I still drink it) I lost 40 pounds during my treatment. After they stretched my throat I was able to sip water for the first time in over 4 months. I had a lot of work to do after that though and I still struggle swallowing. He will probably loose his saliva which is a problem as well. It is hard to eat and swallow without saliva and he will carry something to drink with from now on. Or at least I have to. I got a suction pump to keep the mucus build up clear from my throat as it is thick as glue and you can't swallow it or spit it out. I am 30 months out and still cancer free. (Praise God) I have made a lot of progress on the swallowing so I would say just hang in there and it will improve over time. I am doing everything I want to do so even though I have some challenges they do not stop me from living a good life. I wish your husband the best and I will answer any more questions you may have along the way.

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