Prenuvo
Key Takeaways
Disclaimer: Verywell Health received a complimentary Prenuvo scan for this story.
Vera Sizensky, 38, has confronted a long history of cancer in her family.
Her grandparents and parents had stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, testicular cancer, and a brain tumor.
Prenuvo
Four years ago, her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, despite not being a smoker.
Thats when Sizensky started to worry that she could be harboring cancer in her own body.
If it was just me, I would just live my life and whatever happens, happens.
But Ive got three little kids, and Id like to stay around as long as possible.
Despite Prenuvos focus on preventive health, many radiologists say full-body MRI scanning can do more harm than good.
False positives and detection of benign abnormalities could send patients down a path of unnecessary follow-up tests and interventions.
But Sizensky said it was worth overriding her own doctors skepticism to gain some peace of mind.
When the results came back a week after her scan, Sizensky said she breathed a sigh of relief.
There was no sign of any malignancies.
Instead, the scan showed she has mild scoliosis, a deviated septum, and a hernia.
Years of undiagnosed pelvic pain suddenly made sense.
I wasnt thinking about things like a deviated septum and a hernia.
The more I can know about my body and my mind, the better.
I know how to better take care of myself if I know more about it, Sizensky said.
Can Full-Body MRI Scans Help Prevent Serious Health Issues?
Prenuvos mission is to diagnose conditions before theyre symptomatic to help patients seek early medical intervention.
And I think people are nervous in some cases to actually have clarity, because what might that mean?
Lacy said he hopes that investment in preventive screening tools can help make the health system much leaner.
Others may be healthy and want to stay that way.
To start the process, patients must go through a medical screening.
On the day of her appointment, Sizensky changed into scrubs and a technician walked her through the process.
To pass the time, Prenuvo lets patients watch a TV show with special goggles.
Still, she kept her eyes closed to keep from feeling too claustrophobic.
Sizensky received her results a week after her scan.
What Do Radiologists Think About Full-Body MRI Scans?
Sizensky has an appointment with her primary care provider in late August to discuss the findings.
Shes going to yell at me, she said with a laugh.
Many radiologists have been wary of full-body imaging for decades.
There are also no insurance companies that cover the service through companies like Prenuvo.
I am truthfully doubtful of whole-body screening, for example, to detect a hernia.
If the hernia is not creating any issue, Im not sure detecting it is necessarily helpful.
but its not for the general population at this time, Wang said.
But for most people, knowledge is not always power, Davenport said.
Over the next decade, the incidence of thyroid cancer increased more than six-fold.
Davenport warns the same thing can happen when companies offer broad screenings to healthy patients.
Is the Price Tag for Prenuvo Justifiable?
At $2,500 per scan, routine visits could add up.
Prenuvo touts its cutting-edge MRI technology and use of artificial intelligence to get a quicker and more accurate readout.
But Davenport said that standard technology in most hospitals can take a full-body MRI.
Davenport added that he understands patients desires to get a glimpse of whats happening inside their bodies.
But for now, its hard to justify recommending an MRI scan for a healthy individual.
Sizensky didnt pay for her scan.
But she said she would consider budgeting for a follow-up visit and would consider routine screenings.
Sizensky understands the hesitancy about getting Prenuvo scans.
Now, at least, she knows to ask her doctor about her newfound hernia.
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