Is there anything that can be done to alleviate throat problems due to radiation therapy?

One option: Talk with your treating physician about this home remedy - gargle with aloe vera juice twice a day.

Most head and: Neck radiotherapy is done with chemo. There is mucositis during therapy, we give topical xylocaine, benadryl, (diphenhydramine) combination that work in some. Some use the expensive Ethyol which has a bucket of other adverse effects. Pain meds by mouth can help. There are long term trouble swallowing as well. We use a peg tube to reduce weight loss and treatment interruption that leads to poor outcome.

Absolutely: Most radiation doctors use a variety of preparations to help, depending on the severity. Anything from topical Lidocaine preparations to oral narcotics. In patients with significant pain that does not respond to oral narcotics, fentanyl can be used as well.