It can be claustrophobic, and some people panic, stopping the test. Dr. Mark Quirk, a specialist in family and community medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, did a study in the 1980s of patients' anxiety. Looking for ways to ease the tension, Quirk and his colleagues started introducing patients gradually to the noises of the machine prior to the examination. And they taught relaxation and imagery techniques so that while in the tube the patients could imagine themselves lying in a hammock out in a field with sounds of farm equipment in the distance. Newer MRI machines have a more open configuration, and some MRI labs channel music to patients through earphones.
Some patients even get mild sedation.
In a twist on the issue, some doctors are moving toward posting patients' results on a secure Web site, and there's a rise in tests you can do at home. This may cut the turnaround time but leave the patient alone to ponder the significance of the results. The doctor should make clear the date and time when the patient should call for results. Cancer testing and treatment are rife with uncertainty and fear, and at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, social worker Jane Bausch is part of a special team that deals with patient morale. Finding a compassionate doctor who communicates well is a major help, says Bausch.