Your scan may be routine for your cancer care team. But it may not feel routine to you.

A scan can bring back fears you thought you had moved past. You may worry about whether the cancer has returned, whether treatment is working, or what the next report might say. Sometimes, the anxiety begins days before the appointment. For others, it becomes stronger after the scan, while waiting for the results.

This experience has a name: scanxiety.

Scanxiety describes the worry, fear, or emotional distress that can occur before, during, or after cancer-related scans. Research shows that it is not simply fear of the scanning machine. It can involve concerns about the procedure, the possible result, and the uncertainty between having the scan and receiving an explanation of what it means.

Understanding why cancer scans cause anxiety can help you approach the experience with more clarity and less fear.

What Is Scanxiety?

Scanxiety is anxiety or distress related to cancer scans and the uncertainty surrounding their results.

It can occur at different points in the cancer journey, including:

• Before a diagnostic scan
• Before a scan during cancer treatment
• During routine follow-up scans
• During surveillance after treatment
• While waiting for scan results
• When reading a scan report before speaking with your doctor

It does not affect everyone in the same way.

A large scoping review examined 57 studies involving more than 21,000 people undergoing cancer-related scans. The reported rates varied widely because researchers used different definitions and measurement tools. In studies that specifically measured moderate to severe scanxiety, around 4% to 28% of people experienced it.

More recent research has also found that scanxiety can affect a substantial proportion of people undergoing routine cancer imaging. In one prospective study, more than 70% of participants experienced clinically significant scanxiety. Anxiety increased at different stages of the imaging process and reached its highest level while patients waited for their results.

These figures do not represent one universal rate of scanxiety. They show that scanxiety is common, but its intensity can vary considerably from one person to another.

Why Do Cancer Scans Cause Anxiety?

A cancer scan is not just a medical procedure.

For many people, it represents a question whose answer could affect what happens next.

Fear of what the scan might show

You may wonder:

• Has the cancer grown?
• Has it spread?
• Is the treatment working?
• Has the cancer come back?
• Will my treatment need to change?

These thoughts can make a routine scan feel emotionally significant.

For someone in remission, a surveillance scan may bring a different fear: What if this is the scan that finds something?

The scan itself may take only minutes or hours. But the meaning attached to it can stay in your mind much longer.

Uncertainty can be difficult to tolerate

Before a scan, you do not know what the result will show.

After the scan, you still may not know.

That gap between having the test and knowing what it means can become one of the hardest parts of the experience. Research on scanxiety repeatedly identifies the waiting period between the scan and the results as particularly stressful.

Previous experiences can return

A previous scan may be associated with a difficult diagnosis, treatment change, or unexpected result.

As another scan approaches, those memories can return.

You may feel anxious even when nothing new has happened.

That does not mean you are overreacting. Your current scan may be reminding you of what happened before.

The scan itself can be uncomfortable

Not all scanxiety comes from fear of the result.

Some people worry about the procedure itself.

Depending on the scan, concerns may include:

• Feeling enclosed during an MRI
• Loud scanner noises
• Needles or intravenous contrast
• Lying still for an extended period
• Physical discomfort
• Not knowing what will happen during the procedure

These procedure-related concerns form one part of scanxiety, while fear about the scan result forms another. These different triggers may require different types of support.

When Does Scanxiety Happen?

Scanxiety does not always begin when you enter the imaging room.

It can follow a timeline.

Before the scan

You may start thinking about the appointment days or even weeks beforehand.

You may notice:

• Trouble sleeping
• Repeated “what if” thoughts
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased awareness of physical symptoms
• Fear about the upcoming result

Sometimes, simply seeing the appointment on your calendar can bring the anxiety back.

During the scan

The procedure itself may become stressful.

You may feel trapped, uncomfortable, restless, or afraid of moving.

If you feel uncomfortable, tell the radiology team. They can explain what is happening and, depending on the scan, may be able to help you feel more comfortable.

After the scan

The scan is finished.

But your mind may not feel finished with it.

Now comes the waiting.

You may repeatedly think about what the images might have shown. You may check your phone or patient portal. You may become unusually aware of every physical sensation.

For many people, this waiting period becomes the most difficult stage of scanxiety.

What Does Scanxiety Feel Like?

Scanxiety can affect your thoughts, emotions, body, and daily routine.

Emotional symptoms

You may experience:

• Fear
• Dread
• Irritability
• Sadness
• Feeling overwhelmed

Thoughts and concentration

You may:

• Imagine the worst possible result
• Think repeatedly about the scan
• Find it difficult to concentrate
• Keep wondering what the report will say

Physical symptoms

Some people notice:

• Faster heart rate
• Restlessness
• Muscle tension
• Changes in sleep
• Reduced appetite

Changes in behaviour

You may:

• Repeatedly check for updates
• Search symptoms online
• Avoid talking about the scan
• Find it difficult to focus on normal activities

These experiences do not automatically mean you have an anxiety disorder. Scanxiety can be a situational response to the uncertainty surrounding cancer imaging.

However, it deserves attention when it becomes intense or starts affecting your quality of life or cancer care.

Why Is Waiting for Cancer Scan Results So Difficult?

The waiting period creates a unique problem.

The scan has produced information, but you may not have its meaning yet.

Your mind may try to fill that gap.

You may think:

• “What if they found something?”
• “Why haven't I heard yet?”
• “Does this symptom mean the cancer has returned?”
• “What will happen if the result is bad?”

Repeatedly thinking about these questions can make the waiting period feel longer.

A longer interval between the scan and receiving the result has also been associated with greater scanxiety. Communication from healthcare staff, clear information provision, and social support have been identified as potentially protective factors.

This means managing scanxiety is not only about telling a patient to “stay calm.”

Clear information and a predictable plan can matter too.

What If Your Scan Report Appears Online Before Your Doctor Explains It?

Patient portals can make results available quickly.

That can be useful, but it can also create another source of anxiety.

A radiology report may contain unfamiliar terms that sound alarming when read without context. The report describes imaging findings. Your treating doctor interprets those findings alongside your diagnosis, previous scans, symptoms, examination, and treatment history.

So if you see a result before speaking with your doctor:

1. Avoid interpreting individual words in isolation.
2. Do not assume that an unfamiliar finding automatically means cancer progression.
3. Note down the terms you do not understand.
4. Ask your treating team what the findings mean in your specific situation.
5. Follow the results discussion plan agreed with your care team.

If viewing results before speaking with your doctor tends to increase your anxiety, you may choose to wait until your planned clinical discussion before opening the report.

What Can Help With Scanxiety?

Managing cancer scan anxiety does not have to mean trying to eliminate every worried thought.

A better approach is to make the scan process more predictable and give yourself a plan for each stage.

Before the scan: replace uncertainty with information

Ask your healthcare team:

• Why am I having this scan?
• How should I prepare?
• What will happen during the scan?
• How long will it take?
• When should I expect the results?
• Who will explain the results to me?
• What should I do if I do not receive the results when expected?

It is recommended to discuss these questions with the care team and plan how and when results will be communicated.

Knowing what to expect can give you a greater sense of control.

During the scan: communicate your discomfort

If you feel anxious, tell the imaging team.

Let them know if you are worried about:

• Claustrophobia
• Pain
• Staying still
• Loud noises
• Needles
• The length of the procedure

Depending on the scan, they may provide practical measures to improve comfort. Some scanners also allow communication with the technologist during the procedure.

Do not assume you have to silently tolerate discomfort.

While waiting: make a results plan

Before leaving for your scan, know:

• When should I expect my result?
• How will I receive it?
• Who will explain it?
• Who should I contact if the result takes longer than expected?

You can also decide who you want to be with you during the waiting period.

A friend or family member may not be able to change the result, but they can help you carry the uncertainty.

Give your mind something else to do

You cannot control when a report is ready.

You can control how much of your waiting period revolves around it.

Depending on what feels comfortable for you, consider:

• Meeting someone you trust
• Reading
• Listening to music
• Watching a familiar film or series
• Going for a walk
• Returning to your usual routine
• Doing an activity that requires your attention

The goal is not to pretend that the scan does not matter.

It is to prevent the waiting period from becoming the only thing happening in your day.

Use relaxation techniques when they help

Breathing exercises, meditation, stretching, and other relaxation techniques may help some people manage scan-related distress. Studies of scanxiety interventions have included relaxation, distraction, education, and psychological support, with several interventions showing reductions in anxiety.

However, these techniques should support cancer care, not replace it.

When Should You Seek Professional Help for Scanxiety?

Some worry around cancer scans is understandable.

You should consider discussing it with your healthcare team if the anxiety:

• Interferes with sleep or everyday activities
• Makes it difficult to concentrate or function
• Causes persistent physical distress
• Leads you to avoid or delay necessary scans
• Interferes with cancer treatment or follow-up
• Remains overwhelming over time

You do not need to wait until the anxiety becomes unbearable before mentioning it.

Your oncologist, physician, psychologist, counsellor, or other appropriate member of your cancer care team can help determine what support you need.

Scanxiety Is More Than Fear of a Scan

The word “scanxiety” can make the experience sound simple.

But a cancer scan can represent much more than an imaging procedure.

1. It can represent uncertainty.
2. It can represent the possibility of recurrence.
3. It can raise questions about treatment.
4. It can bring back memories of earlier results.
5. And sometimes, it can make you confront a fear that you had managed to put aside while getting through everyday life.

This is why cancer-related anxiety deserves to be understood within the context of cancer care rather than treated as generic anxiety.

This longitudinal perspective is consistent with the proposed framework of Onco-Anxiology, which focuses specifically on anxiety across different stages of the cancer journey.

Dr. Chirag Jain, MBBS, is a physician and researcher whose work examines anxiety across the cancer journey, including its relationship with cancer treatment and physiological measures such as heart rate variability.

His ongoing research includes a randomised controlled trial studying adaptive music therapy guided by heart rate variability in patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. The study measures anxiety alongside physiological and quality of life outcomes.

The larger idea is simple:

Treating cancer means caring for the person experiencing the cancer journey—not only monitoring the tumour.

A Simple Scanxiety Plan

If your next scan is approaching, keep this plan with you.

Stage	What you can do
Before the scan	Ask why the scan is needed and what to expect
Before the appointment	Confirm when, how, and from whom you will receive the results
During the scan	Tell the imaging team if you feel uncomfortable or frightened
After the scan	Follow your agreed plan for receiving and discussing the result
While waiting	Stay connected with supportive people and continue normal activities where possible
When the report arrives	Discuss unfamiliar or worrying findings with your treating team before drawing conclusions
If anxiety becomes overwhelming	Tell your cancer care team and ask for appropriate support

Frequently Asked Questions About Scanxiety

1. What is scanxiety?

Scanxiety is the anxiety, fear, or distress that can occur before, during, or after a cancer scan. It may relate to the scan itself, what the results could show, or the uncertainty while waiting for those results. It can affect people at different stages of cancer treatment and survivorship.

2. Why do I feel anxious before a cancer scan?

A cancer scan can bring uncertainty about your health, treatment response, or possibility of recurrence. Previous scan experiences, discomfort with the procedure, claustrophobia, needles, or fear of the results can also increase anxiety. Even if your previous scans were reassuring, the next scan can still trigger worry.

3. Why is waiting for cancer scan results so stressful?

Waiting creates a period of uncertainty when you may not know what the scan has shown or what it could mean for your treatment. You may find yourself repeatedly thinking about possible results, checking for updates, or interpreting changes in your body. Research on scanxiety has repeatedly identified the period between the scan and receiving the results as particularly stressful.

4. How can I reduce anxiety before a cancer scan?

Start by making the process more predictable. Ask why the scan is needed, what will happen, how long it may take, and when and how you will receive the results. Tell the imaging team if you have concerns about claustrophobia, needles, pain, or discomfort. During the waiting period, stay connected with supportive people and continue your usual activities where possible.

5. When should I seek help for scanxiety?

Consider talking to your cancer-care team if scanxiety becomes difficult to manage or starts affecting your sleep, daily activities, concentration, emotional well-being, or ability to attend or continue treatment. You do not have to wait until the anxiety becomes severe before asking for support.

Final Thoughts

You may not be able to control what your cancer scan will show. But you can take steps to make the process feel more manageable.

Before your scan, ask what to expect and when you will receive your results. During the scan, tell the imaging team if you feel uncomfortable or frightened. While waiting, stay connected with people who support you and avoid carrying the uncertainty alone. When the report arrives, discuss it with your treating team before drawing conclusions from unfamiliar medical terms.

And if scanxiety starts affecting your sleep, daily life, or ability to continue treatment, tell your cancer-care team. You do not have to manage it alone.

Feeling anxious before a cancer scan does not mean you are weak. It means you are facing uncertainty about something that matters deeply to you.

Recognising anxiety as part of the cancer experience does not mean pathologising every worried thought. It means recognising that caring for someone with cancer involves both the disease and the person living through it.