At Matthews Internal Medicine, preventative care is one of our specialties. Our goals include helping our patients catch disease early or avoid certain ailments entirely. Our preventative medicine program includes cancer screenings, and we’ve noticed over the years that these screenings can be a major source of stress for our patients.
Cancer screenings are important though, and if they end up being a source of stress we worry that people will put them off and won’t catch these diseases early enough. Fortunately, we do know some things that can help patients cope with the anxiety around cancer screenings and get the medical care that they need.
Build a Relationship with Your Medical Team
Building a relationship with your medical team is one of the best ways to deal with anxiety surrounding cancer screenings, and as an added bonus it will probably make other appointments less stressful as well. When you know your doctor well, a trip to the internist is far less stressful and you know that they have your best interests in mind when they suggest certain screenings or procedures.
Learn About the Screenings
A bit of knowledge can also help you deal with the anxiety that comes with cancer screenings. If you know what you’re in for and you’re familiar with the tests, you can try and put your mind at ease beforehand. Learning about the different kinds of screenings, whether it’s a mammogram or a colonoscopy, can make them seem less alien and less stressful.
Remember Why You’re Getting the Screening
Thinking about the reasons why you’re getting these tests done can make cancer screenings seem more stressful at first glance, but actually thinking about why you’re at the doctor’s office and what a screening can do for you might actually be able to make you less anxious. Remember that getting bad news from a cancer screening could be stressful, but that it could end up saving your life. Getting a screening and results early can help you fight back against cancer and boost your survival rate. Remember why you’re getting the screening and how it can help you stay healthier for longer.
Make Plans for Your Waiting Period
Cancer screenings don’t come back with results right away, meaning that the time between the screening and the result could be the most stressful of all. Make plans for that waiting period to take your mind off of your results. Have a to-do list of things to handle around the house, or just opt for a leisurely activity like jumping into a new book, TV show, or video game. Thinking too much about your results won’t help and just add to the stress.
Find Coping Strategies That Work For You
Different people cope with stress in different ways, so find a coping strategy that works for you. You can try meditation, look for social support from your friends and family, or try to stay busy, as we mentioned above. Figure out what strategies help lower your anxiety levels and stick to them.
Your Preventative Care Team in Matthews, MD
So visit our internists today and get the cancer screenings and other preventative care that you need. All of the physicians here at Matthews Internal Medicine are ready to answer any questions that you have and put all of your fears about screenings to rest.