Episode
Episode 202 - Scanxiety and Menopause: Why It Feels So Intense (and What Can Help)
- Published
- Jan 28, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3161
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://menopauseandcancer.org/podcast/
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-menopause-and-cancer-podcast-5554044/episodes/episode-202-scanxiety-and-menopause-why-it-feels-so-intense-and-what-can-help/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-menopause-and-cancer-podcast-5554044/episode-202-scanxiety-and-menopause-why-it-feels-so-intense-and-what-can-help.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
This week, we’re diving into something that so many of us know far too well — scanxiety. That mix of fear, worry, and sleepless nights that builds before routine scans can be overwhelming on its own… But when you add menopause after cancer into the mix, it can get even more intense. To help us unpack what’s really going on, I’m joined by Louise Baker, an applied neuroscience specialist who works with people recovering from brain tumours. Louise explains what happens inside the brain during moments of stress and fear, and shares practical tools to help manage scanxiety with more understanding and self-compassion. In this episode: Why scanxiety happens and why it’s so normal How menopause symptoms can make it worse — physically and emotionally What’s going on in the brain during periods of stress Practical, science-based tips to ease anxiety before and during scan time Whether you’re counting down the days to your next scan or supporting someone who is, this conversation is for you. You’re not alone. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 09:01 Fear, Neuroscience, and Interoception 10:37 "Living with Persistent Stress" 15:12 "Coping with Scanxiety" 18:02 "Kindness Cushion for Stress Relief" 22:52 Healthcare Admin Stress in NHS 32:53 Post-Cancer Uncertainty and Menopause 36:26 "Hyper-vigilance and Stress Response" 39:47 "Activating Calm Through Awareness" 42:44 "Manifesting Future Experiences" 48:02 "Anxiety Coping Techniques Explained" Here is more support from Louise: https://on.soundcloud.com/uXzBLOsnuFftph0uAs and https://whileiwait.uk/ For more suport around FEAR with Louise, find episode 131 For more suport on Anxiety and everything you can do about it, go to Dani’s book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’ https://amzn.eu/d/0eYDBEt Connect with us: For more information and…