Table 1 Descriptive statistics for each item on the MAX-PC (N = 185)

1

Any reference to prostate cancer brought up strong feelings in me.

2

Even though it’s a good idea, I found that getting a PSA test scared me.

3

Whenever I heard about a friend or public figure with prostate cancer, I got more anxious about my having prostate cancer.

4

When I thought about having a PSA test, I got more anxious about my having prostate cancer.

5

Other things kept making me think about prostate cancer.

6

I felt kind of numb when I thought about prostate cancer.

7

I thought about prostate cancer even though I didn’t mean to.

8

I had a lot of feelings about prostate cancer, but I didn’t want to deal with them.

9

I had more trouble falling asleep because I couldn’t get thoughts of prostate cancer out of my mind.

10

I was afraid that the results from my PSA test would show that my disease was getting worse.

11

Just hearing the words “prostate cancer” scared me.

12

I have been so anxious about my PSA test that I have thought about delaying it.

13

I have been so worried about my PSA test result that I have thought about asking my doctor to repeat it.

14

I have been so concerned about my PSA test result that I have thought about having the test repeated at another lab to make sure they were accurate.

15

Because cancer is unpredictable, I feel I cannot plan for the future.

16

My fear of having my cancer getting worse gets in the way of my enjoying life.

17

I am afraid of my cancer getting worse.

18

I am more nervous since I was diagnosed with prostate cancer