Whole-body MRI

Private clinics, such as Prenuvo, sell MRI scans that cover most of the body, usually from the head to the thighs. They can turn up some cancers and other problems. In studies of people without symptoms, a cancer was confirmed in about 1 to 2% of those scanned.

Nobody knows how many cancers it misses, since studies haven’t followed people with normal results over time. There’s also no evidence yet that it helps people live longer.

In studies, 94% of people scanned had at least one finding, and up to 30% needed more tests. Most findings are harmless, but checking them can mean more scans, specialist visits and sometimes a biopsy.

You pay for it yourself, and prices vary from clinic to clinic. A scan usually takes 60 to 90 minutes. Follow-up tests for anything it finds can add to the cost.

The American College of Radiology says there isn’t enough evidence to recommend it for people without symptoms, risk factors or a family history that suggests disease. In Canada, groups of family doctors and radiologists advise against it for people without symptoms.