Scanxiety, Financial Toxicity and Other Challenges in Breast Cancer

In part three of CURE’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month webinar series on sharing stories, we partnered with SHARE Cancer Support to learn more about challenges that patients with breast cancer may face outside of treatment.

In particular, we spoke with Megan-Claire Chase, Breast Cancer Program Director, and Karen Adams, Breast Cancer Patient Support Manager, both of whom are from SHARE Cancer Support, to hear their experiences with scanxiety and financial toxicity, and advice they would give to patients.

0:16— Managing Scanxiety

• Karen Adams said that the anxiety around scans “never goes away” and she found that her faith was helpful to alleviate it.
• Megan-Claire Chase noted that the PTSD around cancer also adds to the anxiety around scans.

5:57 — Financial Toxicity of Cancer

1. Chase said that resources like her cancer center’s social worker helped her fill out applications for grants and other financial support.
2. She said eventually she changed careers because she could no longer handle the high-pressure stress and action like she did before her diagnosis.

12:47 — Navigating Changes in Relationships

Adams noted how her relationship with her family and friends changed since she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment, although she now has the mentality that she wants to both survive and live.

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