Coping With Scanxiety in Lung Cancer

Anxiety is a common feeling among people with cancer and cancer survivors. In fact, about half of cancer survivors deal with ongoing anxiety. Some people have so much anxiety that they develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And lung cancer survivors may deal with more mental health issues than other cancer survivors. They often feel anxious but also show signs of depression.¹

What is scanxiety?

Scanxiety is a feeling of anxiety about having cancer-related health scans. Some people have mild scanxiety, while others feel severe panic. Scanxiety can happen before, during, or after the scans are done. You can also have scanxiety at all 4 stages.^1-4

Scanxiety can center around having tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) scans. You might feel anxious for a lot of reasons, including:^1,2,4

• Being unfamiliar with the scanning machine
• Worry that the scan will be physically uncomfortable
• Fear of being in tight spaces (claustrophobia)
• Anxiety about loud noises the machines might make

People who are at higher risk for feeling scanxiety include:^2,4

• Women
• People with lower education levels
• People who were recently diagnosed with cancer diagnosis
• People with a higher baseline level of anxiety

Interestingly, in 1 study, people whose lung cancer was getting worse did not have significantly more scanxiety than people whose cancer was stable or improving.^1,2

Symptoms of scanxiety

Scanxiety can cause may different symptoms, including:^1,2,4

• Shortness of breath
• Increased heart rate
• Mood swings
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep problems
• Trouble paying attention
• Feeling faint or dizzy
• Little interest in hobbies or activities you used to enjoy

Scanxiety makes living with the stress of cancer harder. When it is under stress, the body releases hormones that can increase blood sugar levels, heart rate, and blood pressure. And several studies show a link between high levels of scananxiety and a lower quality of life.^1,2,4

Scanxiety before having scans done

If you have scanxiety, you may start to worry as soon as you make the appointment for your scan. You could be stressed for a few days or even weeks before the scan. You may also be nervous heading to the appointment or in the waiting room of the imaging center.⁴

When these feelings come, there are things you can do to calm yourself. For example, you can write down a list of questions to ask your doctor before the scan, including:⁴

• How do I prepare for the scan?
• What will happen during the scan?
• How long will the scan take?
• How will I get my results?

You also can schedule your appointment for early in the morning. An early appointment means less time on the day of the scan to feel anxious.⁴

Doing breathing exercises or meditating also may help reduce your scanxiety. Breathing exercises help you focus on the present moment. You can do breathing exercises either standing up or sitting down. Here is 1 common breathing exercise:⁵

• Keep both feet on the ground about hip-width apart.
• Breath in through your nose, as deep down into your belly as you comfortably can.
• Count from 1 to 5 as you breathe in.
• Let your breath out slowly through your mouth as you count from 1 to 5.
• Repeat this breathing exercise for at least 5 minutes.

Once you are in the waiting room, try watching a movie on your tablet or phone to help ease your anxiety. You can also listen to music that you find calming. Reading a book that holds your interest can help lower your stress level too.⁴

Scanxiety during the scan

If you are worried about being inside a scanner, your doctor might give you medicine beforehand to help relax you. When it is time for your scan, the radiology technician will explain each step of the test. But feel free to ask questions. The more you know about the scan, the less anxious you will feel.⁴

You can also ask for things that will make you more comfortable during the scan, including:⁴

• An eye mask
• A blanket
• Headphones to protect your ears if the scan will be loud

You can talk with the radiologist through speakers in the scanner. Even if the scanner is loud, they can hear you. You might also have a special ball to squeeze to let the technician know that you are having a hard time and want to stop the scan.⁴

Scanxiety waiting for test results

People with cancer or a history of cancer often have scanxiety while waiting for test results. The anxiety can come on for different reasons, including:^1-4

• Remembering past bad scan results
• Worrying that your cancer has spread or come back
• The tests results taking longer than usual to come back
• Getting results in a patient portal and not knowing what they mean

There are things you can do to stay calm while waiting for test results. One possible solution is to schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor. That way, you know there will be a set time for going over your lung cancer scans. Of course, having a doctor who is both competent and kind helps put your mind at ease.^3,4

You can also decide not to check the patient portal. While it may be tempting to look at test results, not understanding them can heighten your anxiety. You may want to wait until you can talk to someone who can explain them to you.^3,4

While waiting for your results, do things you enjoy. These might include exercising, learning a new hobby, or spending time with loved ones. You can also ask a friend or family member to come with you when you are scheduled to get your results. Having them with you might lessen your anxiety.⁴