Waiting: Cancer's Least Favorite Side Effect

A Patient's Perspective

Judy, waiting with wisdom.

Waiting is almost the worst part of cancer. During treatment, time doesn’t exactly slow down—it becomes unreliable. Days stretch, minutes linger and the calendar feels less like a planning tool and more like a reminder of what’s coming next.

Waiting for test results is especially hard. Your life begins to orbit appointments and side effects, and everything else politely steps aside. Treatment today is far better than it once was, and I’m grateful for that. Still, waiting leaves plenty of room for imagination, and none of it is helpful.

What made that waiting bearable were the people. The clinic staff consistently treated me like a real person—not a diagnosis, not a chart and not the sum of my test results. Their patience, kindness and steady presence mattered more than they probably realized, especially on days when everything else felt uncertain and impersonal.

As tests approach, anxiety quietly uses up most of your energy. Waiting becomes its own kind of work—emotional, invisible and exhausting. It teaches you how long a minute can feel, how much strength it takes to sit with uncertainty, and how meaningful it is to be treated with dignity while you do.

Support is available for patients and loved ones navigating a cancer diagnosis. Moffitt offers a variety of programs to help throughout your cancer journey. Learn more at Moffitt.org/SupportPrograms or call 813-745-8407 to reach Social Work.

This story was originally published in the PARTNERS newsletter. Visit Moffitt.org/PARTNERS for more stories and to learn more.