Coping with Scanxiety

What is scanxiety?

While going through cancer treatments, you may have scans performed so doctors can see how the cancer is responding to the treatment. These scans help your healthcare team make decisions about your cancer treatment. When it comes time to complete a scan, you may start to feel anxious. This could happen before the scan, during the scan, or even after the scan while you are waiting for the results. The worry you may face could be about your cancer, or the scans themselves might cause anxiety. This is called “scanxiety.” Feeling anxious or nervous about your scans is normal, and others have likely felt the same way. You are not alone.

What are signs of scanxiety?

Not everyone experiences the same signs of scanxiety. Some signs of scanxiety may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Sleeping issues
• Mood swings
• Constant feelings of sadness or worry
• High blood pressure and/or fast heart rate
• Losing interest in hobbies or activities you usually enjoy
• Issues focusing
• Fear of cancer returning or spreading

How do I cope with scanxiety?

Scanxiety can happen before, during and after scans, so finding ways to deal with it will be different for each person. Here are some things you can do if you are dealing with scanxiety:

• Relaxation exercises: Naming the emotion helps you recognize and accept what you are going through. Meditation, breathing, and muscle relaxation can help calm you, manage your stress, and make you feel more ready for your scan. You can also write your thoughts down or share your concerns with a loved one
• Engage with self-care: Try to lightly exercise, eat nutritious foods, get plenty of rest, and spend time outdoors to help your body function its best
• Seek support: Talk to your friends and family about what you are going through. They may be able to help distract you or help you with your daily tasks
• Find distractions: Staying busy may help calm your worries by focusing your mind on other things

Here are a few tips to help calm anxiety surrounding a scan:

• Be open with your healthcare team about your concerns and anxiety
• Request scans for early morning to avoid waiting
• Ask how and when results will be ready
• Create a list of questions to ask your healthcare team
• Create a support network (either with others living with cancer or family/friends)
• Bring a loved one on the day of the scan
• Practice relaxation exercises, such as breathing, meditation and stretching

Be sure to talk to your healthcare team about any scanxiety you experience. They are there to support you in every aspect of your cancer journey.

There are many different emotions you will experience when facing cancer. Learn how to manage the difficult emotions that a cancer diagnosis and treatment can bring up.