Scanxiety is a known phenomenon (there is one study in lung cancer patients); describing the fear and worry associated with scanning, both before and after a scan and before the results are given. In an ideal world we wouldn’t have to have a wait between the scan and being given the results. But the reality is that scans often aren’t read on the day of the scan, let alone reported. There is a significant shortage of neuroradiologists so sometimes the delay can be more than two weeks.
During this time, our quality of life is negatively impacted upon. It makes no difference where on the trajectory you are. In the early stages, patients who are successfully treated have underlying fear is about cancer returning and the dreaded implications. And in patients who have more aggressive tumours, the fear is based in scans’ potentially revealing a lack of treatment effectiveness or disease progression.
We can help you manage your scanxiety, reducing it’s impact on your quality of life.
Coping with scanxiety
This Know How will go through some strategies to help you cope with scanxiety, so you feel better prepared and more in control in the run-up to MRI scans.
For further support, email brainstrust or pick up the phone to us 01983 292405. You don’t need to do this alone. We run regular hypnotherapy sessions that build skills to help you manage scanxiety – click here to find out about upcoming events.
You don’t have to face this journey alone. We’ve got a huge network of inspiring people who understand life with a brain tumour, waiting to meet you.
Join us at a virtual meet up or a face to face event, or our private Facebook community.
Coaching to deal with scanxiety
As coaches the first thing we do is listen, then we listen some more, then we ask questions. Through collaboration, listening and questioning we will help you understand what you need and come up with a plan to help you reach those specific goals.
Whether you’ve got a scan coming up or you’re waiting for scan results, scanxiety is real, but it doesn’t have to have such a large impact on your quality of life. Coaching sessions with a brainstrust support specialist can help you manage the anxiety so you can start living your best day, every day.
“Your help has been monumental to me in working through my thoughts and understanding of the disease. You have helped me gain a perspective on what has happened and to look at things in a new light. Thank you so very much for all your time and kindness.”
If you are struggling to manage your scanxiety, you may find counselling or hypnotherapy helpful.
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