Being diagnosed with cancer, going through treatment, dealing with both short-term and long-term side effects and the anxiety of the cancer reoccurring are all stressful experiences. However, once the treatment is completed, there is also the routine monitoring scans such as MRI scans, CT scans or PET scans that can also produce anxiety, a term that is termed scanxiety. Scanxiety is an increased level of anxiousness experienced by the individual undergoing the scan (City of Hope, 2025). Scanxiety may even mimic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of its link to the initial cancer diagnosis (Delzell, 2024). Thus, the scans themselves can add to the whole stressful cancer experience.
Scanxiety can be caused by a number of different preconceptions. It can be merely the fear of what the scans may find. On the other hand, it may also be a fear that the scans themselves will cause harm or perhaps increase the risk of a secondary cancers. There are a number of physiological symptoms that indicate an individual has scanxiety, and include shortness of breath, increased heart rate, sweating, restlessness, muscle tightness, light-headedness, nausea or lack of appetite, moodiness or insomnia (City of Hope, 2025). Furthermore, other psychological symptoms may also include feelings of tenseness, anger or dismay (Delzell, 2024). Thus, the emotion of scanxiety itself can have detrimental effects on the individual, their treatment and their psychosocial interactions.
It is important to take control of and manage scanxiety. One of the most important strategies for dealing with scanxiety is to think positively in a technique that is known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (City of Hope, 2015). Other techniques that may be used include coping skills that help an individual tolerate, reduce and deal with the stress of scans (City of Hope, 2025). Furthermore, one can learn to react in different positive ways. Further mitigation strategies include setting time on your worries, staying in the present moment rather than worrying about the future, using relaxation techniques such as distraction, deep breathing exercise, meditation and visualization (Delzell, 2025). Furthermore, asking someone to accompany you, making the scans as comfortable as possible and talking to the doctor about when and how you will get the result can also reduce scanxiety (Delzell, 2025).
Please remember that scans are an important part of treatment. They determine what kind of treatment is most suitable. For example, if cancer has spread, then a systematic treatment is important, while local contained tumours may be managed through local radiotherapies. Scans are also used to determine the efficacy of cancer treatments, which determine whether treatment can be stopped or further more aggressive treatment is required. Furthermore, new novel techniques such as theranostics are now using nanotechnologies combining scans, diagnostics and treatments. With regard to the risk of harm, there is more risk from the local environment from sources such as the sun, radon in the rocks and our homes than there is from harm from scans (Torborg, 2018). Moreover, there is also more risk of cancer spread and the inability to successfully treat it through the omission of scans. Thus, scans play an extremely important part of cancer survivorship.
If scanxiety is something that in inhibiting your ability to cope with and move successfully through treatment, Bloomhill have a number of counsellors and psychotherapists that can help out. Please see the Bloomhill Cancer Care website https://bloomhill.com.au/our-practitioners/ for further details. Remember, Bloomhill is here to reduce your anxiety and increase your chances of moving successfully through what can be a stressful experience.
References
City of Hope. (2025). Scanxiety? What is it and how to cope with it. City of Hope, February 16. https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2023/02/what-is-scanxiety
Delzell, E. (2024). Dealing with cancer ‘scanxiety. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/cancer/dealing-with-cancer-scan-anxiety
Torborg, L. (2018). Mayo Clinic Q and A: Weighing the benefits, risks of imaging tests that use radiation. Mayo Clinic. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-weighing-the-benefits-risks-of-imaging-tests-that-use-radiation/
Please contact our Nurses on 07 5445 5794 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
All information provided by Bloomhill is mainly based on research from the Qld Cancer Council and best practice guidelines. Our model of care utilizes the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) domains of wellness along with available clinical evidence. Always consult your care team regarding matters that affect your health. This is a guide intended for information only.
