why can’t we get a yearly full body MRI to scan for cancers?

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I’ve seen so many horror stories where someone gets sick or is in pain, thinking they know what’s causing it only to find out they have late stage cancer. I don’t understand…..wouldn’t insurance companies want to offer this like they would a free yearly physical as it would be cheaper for them than paying out cancer treatments? Wouldn’t doctors want to push they’re patients to have this service done?

In: Biology

14 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

MRIs are not risk free. X-rays can cause cancer – but the risk on a one-off MRI is low, and the benefits if diagnosing an illness more than worth the risk. But MRI the entire population every year, and you’d be causing quite a lit of cancers.

Another is that a MRI can detect something unusual, but cannot diagnose it as a cancer. That is done by invasive surgery to take a biopsy. Again, extra risk. You’d subject lots of people to unnecessary surgery.

And that’s before you even consider cost.

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