All of these emotions have a negative influence on the bodies biology. They cause stress and effect not only the patient, but also their support system, be it spouse, friend or family.
Waiting for the results of a test that will indicate cancer or a benign condition. Waiting for a report that will indicate response or failure to treatment. Life is suspended.
The solution is to minimize delay in arranging testing, maximize rapidity of response. This requires understanding of and sensitivity to waiting as a noxious element in the disease schema.
Creating "real time" communication between the medical team leader and subsequent feedback to the patient. Important scan in the morning? Verbal or e-mail communication between oncologist and responsible radiologist with feedback to the patient THAT day should be the norm. Not: waiting for the written report and expect a call from a nurse in a few days that becomes a week or two. That is a lifetime!
Special pathology will add a few days. Molecular analyses a week or two. But the "core" test outcome of cancer versus benign process should be known in a day or two.
Communicate!
