Did My Dr. Drop The Ball?

I felt anxious after recording an episode today.

My guest had the same cancer I had, and her oncologist has checked her twice a year for almost twenty years!

That made me wonder why my oncologist no longer checks on me. She said I only needed five years of surveillance.

Did My Doctor Drop The Ball on My Care? Or was this just my scan anxiety talking?

I pushed the pause button on my anxiety and realized I was having the oh-so-common scan anxiety.

Cancer scan anxiety is the stress, fear, or worry people may feel before, during, or while waiting for results from a cancer scan. In my case, the anxiety kicked in because I stopped getting the twice-a-year check, not because something new had happened.

Even after treatment ends or previous scans have been reassuring, it is common to feel nervous before appointments. Many people report racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, irritability, or feeling distracted while waiting for answers. These feelings are a normal response to uncertainty and do not mean someone is weak or not coping well.

Waiting is often the hardest part of scan anxiety. It can feel like life is on pause until the results arrive. During this time, I find that staying busy helps reduce stress. I work to maintain my normal routine, starting my day with prayer and gratitude and staying off of Dr. Google.

Today’s guest, Cindy Janecka, is a counselor, a twenty-year breast cancer survivor, and author of the book, This Can’t Be Happening. I met Cindy at a dinner event, and we immediately realized how much we had in common!

Today’s episode is encouraging for anyone who has ever heard those words, “You have cancer.”

_____