Coping with Scanxiety: How to Survive the Waiting Game
If you’ve ever waited for a medical scan—or the results of one—you know scanxiety is real. It’s that gnawing dread that shows up before an MRI, CT, PET, or any test that might confirm (or deny) something serious. For cancer survivors, chronic illness warriors, or anyone in the middle of a diagnostic journey, scanxiety isn’t just uncomfortable—it can be consuming.
Let’s talk about what it is, why it hits so hard, and how to actually cope.
What Is Scanxiety?
Scanxiety is the anxiety that kicks in before, during, and after medical scans. It’s more than just being nervous. It’s the fear of what might be hiding in the shadows—bad news, a recurrence, a new diagnosis, or even just more uncertainty. It’s mental static that doesn’t let you rest.
It’s the “what if” loop:
What if the cancer’s back?
What if they missed something last time?
What if this changes everything again?
Even when the results are good, the fear doesn’t always go away. It just gets filed under “Next Time.”
Why Scanxiety Feels So Intense
You’re not in control. You can’t study for this test. You can’t fix it or speed it up. You're stuck waiting, and your brain hates waiting in the unknown.
There’s real risk. Unlike everyday stress, this fear is tied to real consequences. That makes it harder to brush off.
You’ve been burned before. For many, scanxiety is trauma-based. Bad news in the past leaves a scar that gets poked every time a scan looms.
It’s a lonely process. Even with a support system, no one else is in your exact situation. People might try to be positive when you just want space to be afraid.
Coping Strategies That Actually Help
1. Name It
Just calling it scanxiety can help. You’re not overreacting or being irrational—this is a recognized, shared experience. Labeling it takes some of its power away.
2. Set Time Limits for Worry
You can’t suppress fear, but you can contain it. Give yourself 10 or 15 minutes a day to vent, journal, cry, catastrophize—whatever you need. Then stop. Redirect. Repeat tomorrow if needed.
3. Focus on What You Can Control
Scanxiety thrives on helplessness. So, take some control back:
Make a plan for scan day.
Choose your support person.
Pack something comforting for the waiting room.
Plan something positive to do afterward, no matter the result.
4. Distract Intentionally
Distraction isn’t denial—it’s a survival tool. Rewatch your favorite show. Go outside. Listen to music that doesn’t let your mind wander. Give your brain something else to chew on.
5. Use Grounding Techniques
When panic hits hard, grounding helps:
5-4-3-2-1: Name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste.
Deep breathing. In for 4, hold for 4, out for 6.
Carry a grounding object—a stone, a coin, something tactile to keep you in the present.
6. Talk About It
Scanxiety thrives in silence. Whether it’s a friend, therapist, support group, or online community, talk to someone who gets it. You don’t have to fake calm or stay strong for others.
7. Ask for Fast Results
If possible, talk to your doctor or imaging center about how quickly results will come in. Even shaving off a day or two can relieve some of the tension. Some places offer same-day reads—ask.
A Final Word
You don’t have to be brave all the time. Scanxiety is rough, but it doesn’t mean you’re weak or pessimistic. It means you’re human, and your body has been through something big. There’s no perfect way to wait for news that could change your life. But you don’t have to go through it blindly or alone.
Give yourself permission to feel it, name it, and deal with it on your own terms. That’s not giving in to fear—it’s standing up to it.