What is SCANxiety?
Scanxiety is the increased level of anxiousness patients feel before, during and after a scan to diagnose cancer, monitor the progress of treatment or determine whether the cancer is gone or has recurred.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you probably suffer from scanxiety.
For me, it was the first mammogram, six months after my reconstruction surgery was complete. I had a single mastectomy, so I had to get a mammogram to check the left breast.
After my diagnostic mammogram in December of 2007, the tech told me to follow her, we went out the door of the mammogram room, turned left, and she took me to a different room. Not the “holding tank” where I normally went; the room where I waited for the radiologist to read my mammogram and tell me everything was fine, see ya next year!
No, this was a different room. This very small room looked like an exam room. It had two chairs and on the wall was an X-ray reader. You know, where they place your X-rays, flip on the light and attempt to tell you what they see. This is the room where the radiologist and nurse walked in, told me I had calcifications in my right breast that were showing up on my mammogram, and I needed a breast biopsy to see what it was. (They never said cancer)
So, when it was time for my first mammogram after my diagnosis and completion of treatment, I was a little nervous. Ok, I was very nervous! The tech did a diagnostic mammogram, because I had had breast cancer and this was the test that was recommended. As we left the mammogram room, she turned right and took me to the “holding tank.” This room is small as well. It has six to eight chairs in it, a tv on the wall, lots of pamphlets about breast health and breast cancer. All the women are sitting there with their clothes in a plastic, clear bag and we are all wearing the pink cape that is provided while you get your mammogram. Once the radiologist reads your mammogram, if everything looks good, you will be escorted to the dressing area to get dressed and leave.
The waiting seemed like hours, but I am sure it was mere minutes. The tech came back, called my name, I stepped out in the hallway and she told me everything looked great and escorted me to the dressing area. I literally wanted to cry, cry tears of joy and relief!
Scanxiety? It is real. When you’ve experience a life threatening disease and it’s time to get your scan, it is very normal to experience scanxiety. You worry that the cancer will come back. You want to hear those words, everything looks good, you are “cancer free.”
For example, do you remember where you were on September 11th, 2001? That day affected us all. I can remember I was in my car and the music was interrupted by breaking news. I got home and went straight to the tv and saw the tower on fire. I remember every year how it felt that day. The feeling never leaves me. These are life altering moments.
So is cancer. Ask someone where they were when they received the news they had cancer and I bet they will be able to tell you every detail. I was sitting on the couch, the phone rang and the caller ID said Saint Francis Health System. I knew it was the doctor calling me to give me my results. Still to this day, 15 years later, I remember every single word he said.
You may be saying I have scanxiety but what do I do about it?
Stay in touch with family and friends. Talk with your loved ones about the scan you’re going to have. Tell them how you feel about it. It’s important to make a support system for yourself during your cancer treatment. Sharing your feelings with people who support you can help ease your mind and lessen your anxiety.
Find a licensed massage therapist who is certified in oncology massage therapy and schedule a massage before your scan. Get connected with a cancer support group and let them know you have a scan coming up and how you feel. Join a yoga class because meditation and breathing play a big part in reducing anxiety. Diffuse essential oils wherever you are. Stress Away, Peace & Calming, Joy. Whatever it takes to help reduce that feeling of anxiety.
Most importantly, I want you to be able to identify this feeling and then give you ways to help reduce your anxiety. Friend, it is normal but trust me when I say, you’ve got this!
Your Breast Friend,
Edie