How do you treat severe dry mouth, cracked lips, and a white tongue as a side effect of radiation therapy? how long will these symptoms last?

Prevention is best: The team treating you should know some moith-moistening and hygeine routines to make this a little better. Many patients use jelly like aquaphor on the skin but, this should not be put into the mouth. Keep up your intake of water/fluids and use moisturing balm on the lips. Unfortunately, these problems can far outlast the treatment with people reporting them as far as a year after the radiation.

Xerostomia:: The effect of incidental irradiation to the parotid (salivary) glands. It may be permanent. You need to visit and speak with your radiation oncology team that provided your treatment. There are some simple things that can ameliorate, and there were some options to use during treatment..No sense going there. Your follow up should check tumor control as well as these symptoms.

During therapy: Usually this symptoms appear during radiation and chemotherapy as a side effect. For the dry mouth try otc artificial saliva like oases by oral-b or biotene . Got the tongue try to brush it twice a day using a tongue scraper is preferred , and also keep lips moist always. Symptoms usually subsides when radiation therapy stops.