Scanxiety, episode 1

Last Friday was my first CT scan since I’ve started the trial (12 weeks check-up). Next Wednesday, we’re meeting my oncologist, and should know if, and how effective the treatment has been so far.

A CT scanner – looks like a donut, but not as fun (source: Wikipedia)

The wait – almost 2 weeks – between the scan and the feedback is awfully stressful. There’s nothing I can do, besides waiting and hoping for the best. It makes me nervous, and I feel like every symptom (headache, abdomen pain, etc.) could be an indication of the result – whereas it might just be related to the stress, or to anything else without any sever implication.

I guess it’s what some called scanxiety – here’s a good essay about it – and I suppose I’ll experience it at each scan (every 6-weeks for the first year in the trial). In the meantime still, I’m watching encouraging ASCO reports on treatments for kidney cancer, hoping that I’m responding to the treatment.