Lymphoma & Scanxiety

By Claire Quinn

In 2021, at aged 31 and just shortly after getting married, Claire was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After undergoing chemotherapy treatment at North West cancer centre in Derry, whom she describes as “angel’s on this earth”, Claire got to ring that bell and is now in remission!

“But let me tell you it has been a long and hard 6 months and I know I still have a journey of recovery ahead.”

From diagnosis, through to treatment, Claire underwent multiple tests and scans and as part of our lymphoma lowdown series she shares how she manages ‘scanxiety’.

As we all know scans are routine but it still doesn’t help having that dreaded feeling in the pit of your stomach going for them.

The ways in which helped me cope was knowing my Dr’s and nurses were doing the best they could and if this from of treatment was working there was so many different avenues.

I relaxed the night before giving myself a pamper night listening to nice music and spending time with family to take my mind off it all. I have to travel to Belfast for my scans which is 1.5hrs away so my husband will always book us in for a nice lunch afterwards as a treat which again makes me think on that going through the scan machine.

(I’m always thinking on my stomach 101)

But my best advice is rest and relaxation the night before I also journal every day and this helps me put down all my emotions because believe me there are lots.