Have you or a loved one experienced anxiety before, during or after cancer scans? You’re not alone! You may feel like cancer takes away your control, but there are some things you can do to make your life better in this challenging time. Listen to learn why it happens, how it affects both patients and families, and what you can do to manage the emotional rollercoaster of uncertainty.
In this Episode:
- 01:56 – Remembering Michael Caine
- 03:29 – Arizona: The Red Ghost and Tamale Pie
- 06:49 – Scanxiety: Stress or Anxiety Related to Cancer Imaging or Scans
- 09:25 – The “What If” Cycle
- 10:41 – Family Members & Care Team Can Also Get Scanxiety
- 11:30 – Strategies to Cope with Scanxiety
- 13:06 – How to Stay Calm and Confident Before, During and After Scans
- 16:49 – Outro
What is “Scanxiety?”
A normal part of cancer survivorship is to have what are called ‘surveillance scans’ which are an important part of keeping you healthy during survivorship. “Scanxiety” is the anxiety and fear experienced before, during, and after medical imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, or PET scans, and it is a common challenge for people living with a cancer diagnosis. This includes feelings of dread, fear, and uncertainty that can interfere with sleep, appetite, focus, and overall well-being.
Does Scanxiety Only Affect the Person with Cancer?
No, family members and other caregivers can also experience the same anxiety about surveillance scans. The coping strategies we discuss can also help family members.
Can Anything Help With Scanxiety?
In this podcast we discuss several strategies to cope so you can stay calm and confident through this difficult time. We give you specific tips to help you manage your anxiety by focusing on things you can control.
Related Content:
- S5E48: How to Read a CT Scan Report – Learn the Sections Relevant to Your Diagnosis
- S5E52: Cancer Gone Wild – Learn All About Metastasis
- S5E38: How to Boost Sleep for Mental and Physical Wellbeing
- S1E31: Recurrent Cancer
- What’s in Your Library? Building Grounding Resources through a Practice of Mindfulness
- S6E24: Grounding Techniques “Life Hack”: Your Secret Skill for Surviving the Bad Days
- Cancer Series
References
- A Ghoulish Apparition: The Bizarre Legend of Arizona’s Red Ghost
- Ghost Camels in the American Southwest – Legends of America
- 7 Tips for Coping with Scan Anxiety – HCA Healthcare Today
- What is “Scanxiety” and How Can I Manage It?
- 10 Ways to Cope with Scanxiety Before Your Next Scan | Banner
- Derry-Vick, H. M., Heathcote, L. C., Glesby, N., Stribling, J., Luebke, M., Epstein, A. S., & Prigerson, H. G. (2023). Scanxiety among Adults with Cancer: A Scoping Review to Guide Research and Interventions. Cancers, 15(5), 1381. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15051381
- Mollica, M. A., Smith, A. W., Tonorezos, E., Castro, K., Filipski, K. K., Guida, J., Perna, F., Green, P., Jacobsen, P. B., Mariotto, A., Tesauro, G., & Gallicchio, L. (2022). Survivorship for Individuals Living with Advanced and Metastatic Cancers: National Cancer Institute Meeting Report. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 114(4), 489–495. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djab223
Resources:
- The Red Ghost of Arizona
- The Red Ghost (April 1961, Volume 12, Issue 3) n:51402
- Scan Anxiety (or ‘Scanxiety’): 5 Approaches to Coping | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- How to cope with scanxiety around medical tests | MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Tools Patients, Survivors and Cancer Caregivers Use to Deal With ‘Scanxiety’
- “Scanxiety” Workshop: Understanding and Mediating Anxiety Around Scans
The Red Ghost
This week we traveled to Arizona where we learned about the creepy legend of the Red Ghost. Listen to hear the full story.
Recipe of the Week
While in Arizona, we thought we would share the recipe for an El Corral Tamale Pie recipe. It looks fantastic! Head to Drool Recipes to learn how to make it.
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