Routine cancer scans: Do they bring peace of mind or more stress?

Hi everyone,

After finishing treatment for cancer, many people are monitored with scans or blood tests, often every few months, for years. These routine check-ups are meant to detect a recurrence as early as possible. But a new perspective published in The New England Journal of Medicine questions whether this kind of surveillance actually helps people live longer… or if it may sometimes do more harm than good.

Some patients say the tests give them a sense of safety. Others describe “scanxiety,” financial stress, or confusion about whether more testing really changes outcomes.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, it may depend on the cancer type, personal risk factors, and access to treatment. Still, this raises important questions about informed choices and quality of life after treatment.

👉 What’s been your experience with follow-up care after cancer?

👉 Do regular scans or blood tests make you feel more reassured, or more anxious?

👉 Have your doctors explained the risks vs. benefits of surveillance testing?

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We’d love to hear your thoughts, especially if you’ve been through this yourself or supported someone who has.

Take care,

Somya from the Carenity team 🌼