Scanxiety for women living with metastatic cancer

‘Scanxiety’ is a term that’s used to describe the stress and anxiety people commonly feel when they’re waiting for the results of scans and other medical tests. Testing is a regular and essential part of cancer treatment, so this anxiety can be an ongoing challenge for people living with advanced/metastatic cancer. Holding the tension between hoping for the best and fearing the worst each time a test is done can be emotionally exhausting.

Symptoms of scanxiety don’t only affect emotional health., they can also influence physical and psychological health. People may have trouble eating or sleeping, they may seem moody or preoccupied, or they may simply feel out of control. Increased heart rate, irritability, sweaty palms, and nausea are all common symptoms that people experience.  It can be useful to recognise what symptoms show up for you, so you can better understand your stress responses and consider what you can do to lessen the impact.

Our presenter, Ella Sexton is a Psychologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in the Psychosocial Oncology Program.  Ella will talk about the many ways that scanxiety can affect women, and suggest some possible strategies for managing it. There will be plenty of time for questions and comments.

Ella completed her Master of Clinical Psychology at the University of Melbourne, receiving the Dean’s Award and Elgin Prize for achievement in the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. She has worked in a number of public mental health roles, including acute hospital settings, mental health and community health. Her areas of interest are in providing psychotherapeutic interventions to patients and their families throughout their cancer experience.

This session is part of our Making Connections program for women living with advanced/metastatic cancer.

Register for the Scanxiety online workshop via our Eventbrite listing here

Registrations for this session close at 5pm Monday 27 February.