Understanding Scanxiety:

A Journey Through Fear and Uncertainty

Perpetual Hospital “Visitor”

Scanxiety is a term that encapsulates the palpable anxiety experienced by individuals facing a cancer diagnosis. This emotion does not discriminate; it affects anyone, regardless of the type or stage of cancer. The discomfort arises from an omnipresent worry about upcoming scans and the uncertain revelations they may bring.

The journey of cancer patients is often marked by a prolonged and harrowing state of waiting. Initially, one is engulfed by a whirlwind of information, treatments, and medical appointments that can overwhelm even the most resilient spirit. Yet, as the chaos subsides, the true battle begins: waiting. It is during this quiet period that anxiety takes hold, manifesting in various forms.

Patients find themselves waiting for doctor appointments, watching for symptoms that may herald the return of cancer, and anxiously anticipating bloodwork results that determine whether they can resume normalcy or if they remain vulnerable to illness. The dread of upcoming scans can feel like an eternity, amplifying fears and uncertainties that linger in the shadows.

As the date of the scan approaches, anxiety intensifies. Questions race through the mind: What will this scan reveal? Will there be signs of improvement? Has the cancer shrunk, or has it spread? The inner dialogue spirals into a cacophony of self-doubt and worry. Patients may find themselves contemplating lifestyle changes, questioning their actions, and desperately seeking ways to gain control over an uncontrollable situation.

Consider the experience of undergoing a PET scan, a pivotal moment for many. I recall my first PET scan occurring shortly after my rediagnosis. The stark unfamiliarity of the process only heightened my anxiety. The regulations were stringent: no food or drink for six hours prior. Upon arrival, a nurse escorted me to a small room, a sanctuary that felt like a prison as I awaited the procedure. The rules were recited with a gravity reminiscent of being read one’s rights. I felt the weight of my circumstances as I contemplated the implications of the scan.

Once the IV was in place, I had an hour to occupy my mind and stave off the creeping dread. The ticking clock echoed the anxiety within me, reminding me of a student waiting for a test to conclude. I attempted to immerse myself in a book and music, yet the cold radioactive dye flowed through my veins, a stark reminder of the battle being waged within.

The scan itself was a surreal experience. I lay on a flat platform, sliding into the machine, which felt more like an interrogation device than a medical apparatus. Despite the quiet and painless procedure, an undercurrent of fear coursed through me. I felt a flicker of optimism as I finished the scan, but that hope was swiftly extinguished when I noticed the technician’s demeanor shift. His shy smile and averted gaze spoke volumes; he knew something I did not.

In the aftermath, I would learn of two new lesions—revelations that would haunt my thoughts. How long had they been there? Could they have been detected earlier if insurance hadn’t denied the request for a PET scan upon my first diagnosis four years prior? This reflection brought forth a torrent of emotions—anger, sadness, and frustration at the circumstances that had led me to this point.

Now, on the eve of my next PET scan, I find myself ensnared once more by scanxiety. The treatments I have undergone—radiation, surgeries, and chemotherapy pills—are not mere tasks; they represent my fight for life. As I wait for the results, I can only hold on to hope and acknowledge the profound uncertainty that accompanies each scan.

In sharing this journey, I hope to foster understanding and empathy among those who may not grasp the emotional weight of scanxiety. It is a shared experience, one that transcends individual struggles and connects us in the broader narrative of human resilience.