Dealing with scanxiety

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited November 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY
Dealing with scanxiety
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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited November 2017

    How do you guys deal? I'm scheduled for my first monitoring CT and bone scan tomorrow. I'm both nervous and angry. I have Ativan but I'm still nervous as hell. Any tips on how to deal? I'm being grumpy and grouchy over the smallest stuff.. I know it's just anxiety and stress.

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  • goldie0827
    goldie0827 Member Posts: 6,595
    edited November 2017

    I try to look at like this....

    Today is a good day, I can choose to worry or I can choose to (try) be happy. Either way, it's not going to change anything. So I might as well be happy. Much easier said than done, that's for sure. But I try!!!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited November 2017

    finallyoverit,

    We're sorry you're going through this anxious time. We know others will be by shortly with some helpful tips to get you through this, but in the meantime, you may want to check out the main Breastcancer.org site's slideshow on 6 Tips for Managing "Scanxiety" as well as these 3 blogs from members on Scanxiety and Metastatic Breast Cancer. Also, the podcast Managing the Emotions of Metastatic Breast Cancer touches on some tips to help manage scanxiety.

    We hope this helps and we're sending positive thoughts for good results! Please keep us posted.

    --The Mods

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited November 2017

    Finally, I try to stay very busy doing something that I really like or love, that keeps my mind from thinking about the scans. Often, I go shopping for a couple hours. It even helps to drive to somewhere that I don't normally shop, so I see new things and have to figure how to get to where I want to go, ect. It helps keep my mind ocupied on other matters. I would go to a movie, or rent one, or take a long drive or a long walk some place that has nice scenery. I wish you the best, and hope your scans get good results. Hang in there.

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited November 2017

    My scanxiety is not on the day of the scan but the results appointment after. I usually tell myself either way there will be a plan put in place. Of course I am still anxious about whether it is going to be really bad, in that we are unfortunately helpless.

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited November 2017

    A wise woman on these boards once noted that we get anxious because we feel scans are causing or not causing progression. They're not, of course, but that's somehow how we feel.

    She tried to look at it that the scan was a good thing and was going to tell her what she needed to know to mange this disease. It's an illumination tool.

    That spoke to me and I try to do the same.

    I hope the scans went smoothly and the results are good!

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited November 2017

    Thanks ladies.. the CT scan is done.. I'm in my 4 hour waiting period to go back for the bone scan. Sitting in Panera trying to work and keep my mind off of it.

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  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited November 2017

    I think as time goes by, it gets easier to not worry so much about it. This being your first, of course you are going to be nervous. I agree with pajim, the scans are a good thing. I figure it is what it is, I would rather know than not know. I wish you the best and I will pray your scans are good.

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited November 2017

    Thanks ladies.. all done... Now I wait

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited November 2017

    This should look lovely tomorrow. She finally put the IV in my wrist. Hurt like an SOB.. yeah, she won't be putting it there again.

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited November 2017

    image

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited November 2017

    My MO just emailed me. No progression.

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  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited November 2017

    congratulations, go ce

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited November 2017

    Woo-hoo and phew! Finally! Glad to hear your report! Take some deep breaths and smile! That was a nice bonus that the MO got back to you so quickly.


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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited November 2017

    Thanks ladies.. I adore my MO. He cried when he saw my original MRI report and saw that the cancer was back. Hugs me every time he sees me. If I tear up in his office, he always reaches out, touches my arm/hand to console me.

    He literally saved my life.. twice now. He was the one I reached out to when I felt my primary care was brushing me off earlier this year when the symptoms started. He ordered the MRI and found the progression. The neurosurgeon told me if surgery had been delayed for a week, I would have ended up paralyzed. The tumor was compressing my spinal column and was growing quickly.

    I was very relieved when I saw his email last night and found out all is ok (well, as good as they can be considering).

    As much as I adore him, I still wish I didn't have a need for a MO. <sigh>

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  • WorkingMom10
    WorkingMom10 Member Posts: 72
    edited November 2017

    So happy for your good results!

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