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It is natural to feel anxious after cancer treatment has finished when you are faced with scans and tests.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, unease or nervousness about something. It is very common, and most people will experience anxiety at some time in their lives. It is often fleeting as a reaction to something happening, but for some it can last longer. When facing scans and tests people often feel anxious. Sometimes people find themselves taken back to past memories of when they were diagnosed or to moments during their treatment, worrying about the results and possibility of cancer recurrence.

You may find that you feel anxious in the time before scans or tests, during them or afterwards.

Common mental symptoms of anxiety include:

  • feeling tense or nervous
  • being unable to relax
  • worrying about the past or future
  • feeling tearful
  • not being able to sleep
  • difficulty concentrating
  • fear of the worst happening
  • intrusive traumatic memories
  • obsessive thoughts

If you are anxious, you may also notice physical symptoms such as:

  • faster, irregular or more noticeable heartbeat
  • feeling lightheaded and dizzy
  • headaches
  • chest pains
  • loss of appetite
  • sweating
  • breathlessness
  • feeling hot
  • shaking

Sometimes people may experience panic attacks before scans or tests, which involves a sudden and intense fear and physical symptoms of anxiety for usually around 5-30 minutes. People can often feel out of control. Although scary they are not dangerous.

In addition to the general tips about managing your Emotional and Psychological Wellbeing and Anxiety, it may be helpful to consider the following specific tips for managing anxiety about scans and tests:

Before scans/tests:

  • Engaging in relaxation, mindfulness and breathing exercises can help with feelings of anxiety and stress. For information on mindfulness: Mindfulness – NHS. For relaxation and breathing exercises: Relaxation and breathing exercises | Maggie’s
  • Sticking with your usual routine in the days leading up to the scan/test
  • Speak to your medical team/GP if you are struggling with claustrophobia or fear of needles as they may be able to help (for example planning adjustments for the day, medication or talking therapy)
  • Ask for information about what to expect during your scan/test if it will help you to know more and feel prepared
  • Speak to your friends or family about your worries
  • Prepare things that may help you during your scan/test (e.g., a playlist of your favourite or relaxing songs, a downloaded podcast)

During scans/tests:

  • Use something to distract yourself (dependent on what the scan/test is) – for example listening to music, visualising a safe space, speaking with staff members, reading an article or chapter of a book
  • Try to use breathing exercises (e.g., box breathing – inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds)

After scan/tests and waiting for results:

  • Think about what you could do immediately after the scan/test (e.g., something to treat yourself)
  • Stick to your usual routine
  • Continue engaging with relaxation, mindfulness and breathing exercises
  • Try to limit google searching
  • Speak to your friends or family about your worries, or to people in a support group
  • Check with your team when and how you should expect to get your results

Resources

Scanxiety in adults – Information from the Brain Tumour Charity, but applicable to any type of cancer

Support with cancer and anxiety | Macmillan Cancer Support

Fear, anxiety, panic and cancer | Cancer Research UK | Cancer Research UK

NHS mental wellbeing audio guides: Mental wellbeing audio guides – NHS

Further support

It is natural to feel anxious when facing scans and tests after cancer, and often this will improve over time. However, if you are struggling and the tips on this page do not help then please do reach out for help.

Peer support:

Peer support can often be helpful, especially when people feel alone in their experience. There are a range of support groups available, for more information please see the Support Groups page.

Psychological therapy:

Psychological therapy can be useful and usually involves meeting with someone one to one or in a group. Therapists may use a variety of techniques to support you including (but not limited to) ideas from cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion focused therapy. Therapy may help with living with the fear of scans and tests and more specific fears such as claustrophobia or needle phobia.

You can ask your cancer team for a referral to the Macmillan Cancer Psychological Support Team (CaPS) at St George’s Hospital if you are a patient under their care and have had treatment within the past 2 years. Alternatively, you can speak to your GP about psychological therapy available, including your local Talking Therapies service.

You can find information about the CaPS team here

You can find your local talking therapies service here

Support from cancer charities:

Maggie’s Centres offer a range of psychological support including support groups, drop-in services, workshops and courses, and one to one psychological therapy: Our centres | Maggie’s. You can either drop in, email or call them.

Macmillan offer a free support line on 0808 808 00 00, or you can email them for support: Emotional, financial and physical help for people with cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

Community Mental Health Teams:

If you are already receiving support for your mental health, tell your team or therapist about your anxiety around scans and tests. For more information on this you can go to Community Mental Health webpage.

GP

You can speak to your GP about your anxiety around scans or tests. They may be able to support you in thinking about onward referrals or medication.

Thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life

For some people when they are facing a difficult time, they can have thoughts of harming themselves or ending their life. If you ever experience this, please seek immediate support via the Samaritans (116 123) for someone to talk with, ask for an emergency GP appointment, call 111 who can connect you with your local 24-hour mental health crisis team, or visit A&E.  You are not alone.