Im not aware of oral cancer being diagnosed with a blood test. After going thru OC chemo treatments, patients can expect their blood counts to be "off". This can take a very long time to return to normal or they may have a new normal. Testosterone and thyroid numbers are ones that are most commonly affected. This is why I always advise patients to have a blood test done including thyroid and for men testosterone levels prior to having any treatment. Its important to get the correct numbers so doctors have that as a baseline to compare with after treatment numbers.

Being 2 months post treatment you can expect your blood test numbers to be off. Chemo for OC can have a major impact on blood counts. This is especially true for the white counts. Usually the testosterone and thyroid numbers are affected during the recovery phase. Its so important to avoid crowds, public places, wash and/or sanitize hands frequently during and after treatments as your immune system isnt functioning as well as before treatments. Recovery can be a very frustrating and long road. Patients can never recover as fast as they think they should. Unfortunately a complete recovery from OC and its barbaric treatments can take an entire 2 years. Most patients will make their biggest improvements within the first 6 months after treatment ends. Patients can expect to see smaller improvements with dry mouth and sense of taste until about the 2 year post rads mark.

Heres a link from the main OCF site that explains after treatment complications. I think this may help you to better understand everything you have been thru and how it can affect you for a very long time after treatments end. Some of the side affects mentioned in the above posts are related to your treatments and not from low testosterone or thyroid. They need to be relayed to your current treatment team so they have complete knowledge of whats going on post rads. Cold sensitivity and poor circulation after having chemo is common for OC patients. It could be a signal for a bigger issue like neuropathy. I suggest you may want to hold off seeking out a specialist for your blood counts until you are further out in your recovery. An endocrinologist probably does not see many oral cancer patients (if any) who have just finished treatments. Your ENT and oncologists should be monitoring your blood counts every so often and prescribing any medications you need to correct anything that is not normal.

OCF main site --- After treatment complications




Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile