Poster Presentation 2025 National Cancer Survivorship Conference

Scanxiety: A longitudinal survey study in people with advanced cancer. (#55)

Kim Tam Bui 1 2 , Belinda E Kiely 1 2 3 4 , Haryana M Dhillon 5 6 , Chris Brown 3 , Alexander Menzies 7 , Anthony Linton 1 2 8 , Stephanie H Lim 4 9 10 , Annette Tognela 4 , Prunella Blinman 1 2
  1. Medical Oncology, Concord Cancer Centre, Concord, NSW, Australia
  2. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  3. NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  4. Medical Oncology, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, Campbelltown , NSW, Australia
  5. Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  6. Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  7. Sydney Medical Oncology, Melanoma Institute of Australia, Wollstonecraft , NSW, Australia
  8. Asbestos and dust Diseases Research Institute, Concord, NSW, Australia
  9. Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  10. Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia

Aims: To determine the prevalence, severity and longitudinal trajectory of scanxiety in people with advanced cancer.

Methods: People with recently diagnosed advanced cancer and who were planned for scans to assess treatment response were recruited from outpatient clinics at three Australian metropolitan cancer centres. Participants received daily online surveys to measure scanxiety from one week before their first scan until one day after the clinic review for results. Surveys included the distress thermometer and an 11-point Likert scale (scored 0 to 10 with scanxiety prevalence defined as ≥1, and severity defined as ≥4). Scanxiety was reported at three time intervals: pre-scan, post-scan, and post-results. Preferences around delivery of scan results were collected. Scanxiety monitoring was assessed for feasibility (≥70% of scanxiety assessments completed) and acceptability (≥70% of participants selecting ‘Yes, definitely’ or ‘Yes, for the most part’).

Results: Between January 2021 and November 2022, 79 participants were recruited. Their mean age was 64 years and 53% were female. Common cancer types were melanoma (25%), bowel (16%) and breast (16%). Most had a computed tomography scan (n=74, 94%) and received scan results a mean of four days post-scan (range 0-19). Mean scanxiety scores were higher in the two pre-results intervals (3.2 and 3.4) compared to the post-results interval (2.2). A similar trend was seen with prevalence: 73% and 78% v 56%; and severity: 52% and 55% v 28%. Most participants preferred to receive scan results: in-person (71%); at their next scheduled appointment (65%), and; by their usual oncology doctors (71%). Scanxiety monitoring was feasible (rate 84%) and acceptable (rate 92%).

Conclusion: Scanxiety occurred in most people, with reduced prevalence and severity after scan results were received. Scanxiety prevalence and severity persisted post-results in a small group of people.