Body Scans

[buff Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buff]

i AM HAVING IT DONE ALONG WITH MY WIFE NOV 26TH. THE NYPD LIEUTENANTS UNION HAS HOOKED UP A DEAL FOR RETIRED AND ACTIVE MEMBERS.

WILL GET MY ACT TOGETHER WHEN I RETURN FROM VACTION MEANING A HEALTHY DIET. AM EXCITED ABOUT IT. I KNOW MY HEART MAY HAVE SOME ISSUES.

THE COP WHO SPENT THE WHOLE TIME WITH ME FROM SEPT 11 TO NOV AT GROUND ZERO PASSED AWAY IN JUNE OF 2003 OF CANCER.

HAS ANYONE HAD ANY GOOD STORIES. THERE WAS A GUY IN PALM BEACH LIVES NEAR ME WHO WON A BODY SCAN AT AN AUCTION. HE WENT FOR THE SERVICES AND FOUND OUT HE HAD CANCER. YOUNG GUY WITH A FAMILY.

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

Better to find out than not. Good luck Scott. Hope it is a positive result.

My best friend's mum went for one and found out she had a tumor in one kidney which had to be removed. At least they found out in time and she's still alive and kicking.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Bill had the YourScan Full Body Scan done a few years ago


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The patient will be scanned from the brain down to and including the pelvis.
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A preliminary report is given the same day of the study.

A formal, written report and CD of the images are mailed to the patient.
Now offered at a dramatically lower price of $595. (not covered by ins)

yourscan .com

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

I do NOT recommend these. There are several reasons for this:

First, no one has done studies to prove that you actually find and prevent disease that is clinically significant. Almost everyone has some abnormality on CT scans. But that doesn't mean that it's causing a problem. You've likely lived with it for decades if not your entire life.

Second, if something is found, it will likely cost additional money to further evaluate it, to determine if it actually is a risk to you. Then, if you and your doctor decide that something must be done, you'll submit to yet another expensive procedure (that may not be necessary) and its attendant risks.

Third, you are exposed to a great deal of radiation which actually increases your cancer risk for the questionable benefit listed above.

Fourth, these can be expensive tests to provide questionable benefit and known risk (OK, that's kind of a summary of the above).

I'm sure that I could line my pocketbook by supporting these. In fact, I've made money from similar scans when patients have come to me to help interperet the results, but that's not why I went into medicine. I have seen all the problems listed above and quite frankly, do not recommend these kinds of tests. At the very least, talk to your regular doctor about their utility before you get one done. S/he can then guide you to see if MAY be beneficial in your particular situation.

OK, got that off my chest. Thanks!!

[ebram Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ebram]

Should be called body scams

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I do NOT recommend these. There are several reasons for this:

First, no one has done studies to prove that you actually find and prevent disease that is clinically significant. Almost everyone has some abnormality on CT scans. But that doesn't mean that it's causing a problem. You've likely lived with it for decades if not your entire life.

Second, if something is found, it will likely cost additional money to further evaluate it, to determine if it actually is a risk to you. Then, if you and your doctor decide that something must be done, you'll submit to yet another expensive procedure (that may not be necessary) and its attendant risks.

Third, you are exposed to a great deal of radiation which actually increases your cancer risk for the questionable benefit listed above.

Fourth, these can be expensive tests to provide questionable benefit and known risk (OK, that's kind of a summary of the above).

I'm sure that I could line my pocketbook by supporting these. In fact, I've made money from similar scans when patients have come to me to help interperet the results, but that's not why I went into medicine. I have seen all the problems listed above and quite frankly, do not recommend these kinds of tests. At the very least, talk to your regular doctor about their utility before you get one done. S/he can then guide you to see if MAY be beneficial in your particular situation.

OK, got that off my chest. Thanks!!

I think you may be misunderstanding this.

These have caught problems, it is a proven fact.

Where did you get the idea that there was radiation? Only Xray has radiation. MRI uses no radiation. Same for PET scans, Ultrasounds, etc.

Your doctor, and insurance, don't want to run test unless you have a problem. This is only a test, an exam, 'a second opinion' so to speak. You have to choice to do something or not do anything. If you doctor says you have high bloodpressure, and writes a prescription, you can fill it or not. I fill mine and take my meds every day.

And of course it is going to cost more. If you go to a doctor with a cough, and an Xray may show a spot. Additional tests, possibly MRI, are required to find out what the spot might be. That is how it works, test, then further tests.

With my family history, I have often thought about doing this. Getting a full scan may (or may not) pick up something that may keep my wife from being a widow before her time.

Sorry Dude, you and I disagree on this very strongly.

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

I think you may be misunderstanding this.

These have caught problems, it is a proven fact.

Yes, they have caught problems. But the testing from certain tests can cause problems and there may be risks from additional required tests, such as biopsies.

Where did you get the idea that there was radiation? Only Xray has radiation. MRI uses no radiation. Same for PET scans, Ultrasounds, etc.

PET scans actually have radiation. They inject a radioactive isotope (a fairly small risk, but present nonetheless) into your bloodstream which allows the incredible pictures from PET scans. CT scans (which is generally the test that calculates coronary calcium scores mentioned above) are a type of specialized X-ray which actually have significantly more radiation. If 1200 people received a whole-body CT scan, researchers state that one of them would develop an additional tumor. Not a huge risk, but if you're feeling fine, more of a risk than I'd recommend. MRI and ultrasound do not have radiation, but there are some fairly minor (mostly theoretical) risks associated with these as well.

Your doctor, and insurance, don't want to run test unless you have a problem. This is only a test, an exam, 'a second opinion' so to speak. You have to choice to do something or not do anything. If you doctor says you have high bloodpressure, and writes a prescription, you can fill it or not. I fill mine and take my meds every day.

And if your personal doctor is directing you to do this, then I have much less concern about the appropriateness of the test

And of course it is going to cost more. If you go to a doctor with a cough, and an Xray may show a spot. Additional tests, possibly MRI, are required to find out what the spot might be. That is how it works, test, then further tests.

But certain tests have risks, particularly biopsies, surgeries, etc. Some of these may not be necessary. I see patient every week who have had problems from tests, biopsies, treatments, etc. If these were unnecessary in the first place, that quite saddening. The cost is only one concern. But if we chose to redirect the way we spend money on medical care in this country, we could provide the highest overall quality of care for every individual without spending a penny more. Virtually every other developed country in the world does it right now. But we don't even though we spend more than everyone else (per capita)

With my family history, I have often thought about doing this. Getting a full scan may (or may not) pick up something that may keep my wife from being a widow before her time.

In that situation, I would recommend discussing your history with your doctor so that you could together determine which tests may find something that you are at risk for due to your family history. This would be much higher yield (IMO) than taking the equivalent of a "shotgun" battery of tests that aren't guided in any way.

Sorry Dude, you and I disagree on this very strongly.

I guess that I would equate some (not all) of these tests as tearing apart the walls of your house to look for problems that might be there. If you do that enough, you will find problems. But you'll probably cause about as many problems as you find, it will be expensive, and it may get pretty messy in the process. If the test is a directed test looking for something specific, then that makes perfect sense. If there's something you're at risk for, then that makes sense. Otherwise, I will have to disagree with you.

All of that said, the final choice must be yours as it is your life and you are the only one who truly has to live with the daily consequences of your decision.

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

Where did you get the idea that there was radiation? Only Xray has radiation. MRI uses no radiation. Same for PET scans, Ultrasounds, etc.

.

These are typically CT scans and they are an xray device. Keep in mind that x-rays are only one type of radiation. Pet, Cardio, CT and other nuclear studies either use xrays or injectable nuclear isotopes. The radiation dose to individuals is measureable but diagnostic uses are not considered harmful.

Ultra sound & MRI's use other types of imaging.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Have to weigh in here.

When I'm asked, as an N.P., I tell people that they have to find their level of comfort in their own health care and take appropriate measures.

Body scans are a way of doing this and they have found conditions which warrant further watching or intervention. Late: You may be the type of person who wants to know or the type who would rather not know. I'd rather know asap, but that's my comfort level.


Yes, they are C-T/CAT scans. Full body mostly, although there are different studies (choices) that the patient/consumer can elect. Isotopes aren't used in the screening scans as these are for screening. Isotopes are used in diagnostics. Not all injectable studies are nuclear (tracer), some are just radio-opague-dye. I speak of our practice in the Boston area only and my experience in radiology.
B.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Have to weigh in here.
...SNIP...
B.

Thank you. It has been a while since I worked in the 'camera' side of the images, so couldn't remember everthing, but you certainly added value with your background.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Thank you. It has been a while since I worked in the 'camera' side of the images, so couldn't remember everthing, but you certainly added value with your background.

Your post was informative and accurate as well. It's good that we input our expertise for the common good.
B.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

This is a very interesting topic - thanks for initiating it Scott. It brings to light one of the controversial aspects of medicine. With new technology, how much knowledge is too much? PET scans can show pinpoint tumors so small that may never become cancer during one's lifetime. Why would you want to trouble yourself with things like that? On the other hand, some aggressive cancers, like pancreatic, do not show symptoms until it's too late. In those cases, this scan could save someone's life with early intervention. Ultimately it is up to the consumer. I have a nerve condition called trigeminal neuralgia. When it began, I had to have an MRI to rule out any brain lesions or M.S. Well, there was nothing there that could have caused the neuralgia, but the scan showed I had a large brain tumor called a meningioma. In 99% of the cases, they are benign. Because this tumor is large and lays close to a vein, the MDs will not do a biopsy. If they go in, it will be to take it out because it will be extensive surgery. As with any brain surgery, there is always the risk of brain damage. My tumor lies in my occiptal lobe, which means a complication of surgery could be blindness. This is the choice I have had to make - live with what seems like pretty good odds, or have brain surgery. Again, it is up to my comfort level. The recommendation was to watch it with repeat MRI's every 6 months, then every year if everything is stable. My first question to the neurosurgeon was, "would you let your wife wait a year and just monitor it?". He replied "I think so" (big help) but went on to say that his wife would NEVER wait 6 months knowing there was a tumor. She would have to have the biopsy results or she could not rest. So again, it's up to the individual's comfort level.

[buff Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buff]

The Price Is Right And I Was Told They Would Be Doing 4 Scans Stomach, Pelvis And Other Areas For Under A Thousand For Myself And My Wife. Just Purchased My Plane Tickets From West Palm On Jet Blue To Nyc Which Is A 1300 Cost And Get To See My Folks For Thanksgiving.
Im 47 Next Week And Honestly Havent Been The Same Since 2001. I Take A Blood Pressure Pill And Have To Keep An Eye On Things.

I Appreciate The Good Honest Responses But I Like To Know If I Have Any Issues. And My Wife Too. I Try To Maintain A Possitive Attitude And Have Had Alot Of Blessings Come My Way. Im Not Religous, My Wife Is Im Spiritual.

I Am Going Ahead With Our Plans And Hope If There Are Any Bad Clues They Will Be Seen In Time. I Have Two Health Insurance Policies And The One With The Palm Beach School District Is Better Than Ghi. Thanx Again

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

I did want to go on the record that my concerns are primarily with scans in asymptomatic people without risk factors. In this situation, particularly in the case of whole-body CT, the minimal potential benefits just don't outweight the mild risks and costs, IMO.

If you have certain risk factors, specific symptoms or other signs of a problem, the minimal risks of specific, targeted studies generally are overcome by the benefits of the knowledge gained by the study. That said, there are occasional people who get too many of these studies as well. I know one individual that seems to get at least one CT scan a month. If she doesn't eventually get cancer, I'll be very surprised.

All of these studies (CT, PET, ultrasound, MRI, nuclear medicine studies, etc.) can yield valuable information and I would never hesitate to order one when trying to determine the source of a patient's malady or to screen for disease in a patient with risk factors.

Thanks for everyone else's opinion.

I'm just a doctor voicing his opinion.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

......

I'm just a doctor voicing his opinion.

Dude, you're a doctor?

I wish my doctor would make a little effort in my care. When we get to my high blood pressure or my high cholesterol, he pretty much says ‘it is in your history’ and give me pills and tells me to exercise. My wife’s doctor had her in for additional test. After that, medication was adjusted based on their findings. My doctor told me to stop into Target and check my blood pressure near their pharmacy. My father died at 49 from heart problems. His father died from heart problems. I am older than my father was, and concerned, but I am on medications that my father never had. I have never had any stress test, and no one knows if my blood vessels are fully open or nearly closed. Would this medication be better than that medication? Know one knows because no one is doing any tests. So, why don’t I change doctors? I did. This one is better than the last, but this is his program. I would have to change insurance to get better care, or start being more proactive myself. Maybe it is time for a body scan!