I believe your doctor should realize that getting nutrition and swallowing are 2 different things. If you can't get enough nutrition through your mouth, then a feeding tube might be a necessity. Nutrition is necessary to maintain your weight and your strength, and ability to heal. There are swallowing exercises that can be done to continue working the throat's muscles, and drinking water or nutrition drinks still requires you to swallow. In my opinion, you can't disregard the nutrition need on the basis of saving your swallowing muscles. Nutrition is the priority. Do you have a nutrition therapist or occupational therapist who is working with you in regard to getting proper nutrition and maintaining your ability to swallow? You should see someone who is trained in that regard. Your surgeon or radiology oncologist may not focus on that care as much as is necessary.