Whether in the beginning stages of a diagnosis, during treatment, or after treatment, many people living with cancer experience higher levels of stress and anxiety in the days or weeks leading up to or after a scan, MRI, or x-ray appointment. This experience has been termed ‘scanxiety.’ This is no surprise, given that scans are a key diagnostic tool to understand what is happening with the cancer. During diagnosis, scans help doctors know the extent of the cancer. After treatment, they indicate whether a tumor responded to treatment and then, in the months or years ahead, whether it has come back. The results are potentially life-changing. Living with uncertainty while awaiting a scan can be quite challenging for many people. 

While scanxiety is a normal response to this uncertainty, there are things you can do to get relief.  Call our Telephone Lifeline and share your challenges or connect through our Lifeline Chat. Lifeline Specialists are available to provide a listening ear, work with you on resources, and get you connected to Cancer Lifeline programs to help you manage anxiety. Here are some other ideas to consider:

Focus on today. Try and shift your attention to the here and now. Thinking about what will happen in the future takes away from your ability to appreciate what is happening in the present. Mindfulness meditation is an excellent tool that can help you learn how to re-focus your mind in new and helpful directions. Register for Cancer Lifeline’s free, regular class series such as mindfulness, meditation, and stress management.

Schedule a time to worry. Scheduling a time during the day for worrying can be a useful strategy to manage anxiety. Create space in your day for ‘worry time.’ Limit this to 10-15 minutes, once or twice a day. When fears or worries come up at other times, write them down and then let them pass on. Remind yourself that you will return to them during your scheduled ‘worry time.’

Stay active. Get your body moving. Physical exercise is key to managing stress and anxiety. Consider a morning or afternoon walk around your neighborhood each day or register for an online yoga or meditation class series.

Reflect on your past success. You have successfully navigated uncertainty before. Take a deep breath and think about stressful events you have managed before and what helped you then. You are resilient and have the tools you need to pull from.

Create your routine. Sticking to a daily schedule allows you to have structure and control over the things you can change! This includes creating time for sleep, meals, and exercise.

Engage in distraction. Listen to music or podcasts, binge-watch your favorite series, or dive into a book you have been wanting to read.

Connect with others. Talk with the people in your life who you find supportive, who can listen to you and not try to fix or problem-solve. Having the opportunity to talk about the worries and concerns running through your head diminishes the power they have over you. Also, consider joining an online cancer support group. Nothing can compare to the feeling of being a part of a community of people who truly understand your experience and “get it.” Cancer Lifeline has presentations on “Managing the Fear of Recurrence” and offers numerous, free, Cancer Support Groups.

Get the results ‘your way.’ Let your doctor know you are working hard to manage your anxiety about the results and to please let you know as soon as possible what the scan indicated. Also, ask for the results to be communicated to you in a way that works for you, whether that’s a telephone call, an email, or an in-person visit.

Access Cancer Lifeline’s presentations and classes (creative expression, exercise and movement, nutrition, and stress reduction). Visit the  Cancer Lifeline website or call the Lifeline: (800) 255-5505 or (206) 297-2500 (M-F 9am-5pm PST)

You can now participate in our support groups and classes online from the comfort of your home!