Why You Shouldn't Get a Full Body MRI - the VPZD show

Vinay Prasad, MD MPH; Physician & Professor
Hematologist/ Oncologist
Professor of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Medicine
Author of 450+ Peer Reviewed papers, 2 Books, 2 Podcasts, 100+ op-eds.
If you want to contact me, do it here: www.vinayakkprasad.com/contact
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Personal Website: www.vinayakkprasad.com
Laboratory Website: www.vkprasadlab.com
Podcast Website: www.plenarysessionpodcast.com
Academic Publications: www.vinayakkprasad.com/papers
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Twitter @vprasadmdmph

[@seanodaniels397]

This goes the same for injuries. We underestimate the innate healing abilities of the body. I’ve ruptured my Achilles, tore my rotator cuff, tore my meniscus…and fully recovered without surgery. Thanks to my friend who is a RETIRED orthopedic surgeon who told me 99% of injuries don’t need surgery. Don’t forget…It’s a business.

[@SolSystemDiplomat]

Stop. You’re drunk.

[@seanodaniels397]

@@SolSystemDiplomat I’m speaking from my own experience. Go for all the surgeries you want.

[@user-po7nh4nr5w]

did you do anything specifically to heal or just let time do its job?

[@seanodaniels397]

@@user-po7nh4nr5w I only rested in the beginning. You want to gently start moving as soon as possible. With my Achilles rupture I just had a boot and crutches. Shedding the crutches after the 4 days and walking in the boot for 8 months. Then slowly building strength back after losing the boot. Today I am jumping and sprinting again. No surgery.

[@cathyphillips679]

Isn't it great to have friends. I had a rotator cuff injury. I have a friend who is a retired physiotherapist who helped me out with some exercises and advised against surgery or meds. Took time, but healed up fine.

[@sl4983]

We almost had a mammography and ultrasound biopsy, but changed our mind at last minute. That painful lump went away on its own, it's been 25 years.

[@MK-ih6wp]

So scary to think of all the “breast cancer survivors” who possibly never even had cancer to begin with, yet doctors still pressured them into surgery, radiation, chemo… The cancer industry is so corrupt & profitable. Absolutely no incentive to change…

[@studentaccount4354]

It might have been a benign lipoma or swollen gland that resolved.

[@sl4983]

@@studentaccount4354 It was more likely just hormonal.

[@sl4983]

@@studentaccount4354 It was more likely just hormonal.

[@jp5419]

Did you change your lifestyle?

[@gnormhurst]

"Saved my life"? We should always say, "Extended my life." “Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” -Psalm 90

[@TheFrygar]

well...no...that's the same fallacy as the original comment. The point is that you don't know ahead of time whether your life was saved or extended.

[@alaron5698]

​@@TheFrygarI think the point is that your life is never "saved" as your death is inevitable anyway. Which, while technically true, is something I doubt OP sticks by in all things.

[@emmanuelking9988]

I was against all testing until I actually got cancer and as a result had pathological bone fractures. For me, in the worst of my situation, imaging (MRI, CT SCANS,etc.) was a must and it helped diagnose me and find other bone lesions. So, it all depends on an individual's situation.

[@Seeingisntbelieving]

You found it after the fracture. Your cancer was haughty day one and cutting yours out was necessary. They are saying most of the time anomalies are not causing issues or death…and even if they’re caught your outcome honestly has very little to do with these robust and aggressive treatments. I think that last sentence scares most people because we have so much faith in the medical community.

[@emmanuelking9988]

@@Seeingisntbelieving Yes, my cancer (multiple myeloma) was detected after the fracture. I went to the E.R. with severe leg pain (where fracture was about to happen) and a couple days later my femur bone just snapped in two (without injury or fall). In this E.R visit, other bone lesions were detected on X-Ray. During my operation they did a bone biopsy, which confirmed multiple myeloma, plus the other blood test that also confirmed myeloma. I understand what you are saying and believe that to a certain extent but when someone's cancer has become extremely aggressive... it's all a game changer.

[@Jerri001]

⁠​⁠@@emmanuelking9988so true my dad just find out he has multiple myeloma after CT scan.. how is your journey with treatment for multiple myeloma

[@lessonswithmb]

Friends mom was in a car accident. Got a full body scan to check spine and bones. Spine was ok. But saw a spot on her kidney. Did another scan. Still saw a spot. Did a biopsy. Decided to remove kidney. Pathology came back. Kidney was fine. Now she has only one kidney because of a false positive. I was told I had a brain tumor when I didn’t. Thankfully second scan showed nothing.

[@theancientsancients1769]

Scary , an ultrasound showed something benign on kidney, but plan to do an MRI to check more

[@sugabay]

😮

[@willzsportscards]

I'm a radiologist (the MD who reads the images). I have mixed feelings on this. I understand the whole argument of unnecessary anxiety, poor cost benefit analysis etc etc. just know this...every week of work, I easily see 2-3 'incidental' malignancies that pop up. Like a person scanned after a car accident. Most common ones? As you'd expect, the most common malignancies...a lot of lung, breast, colon...I do see a decent amount of renal cell carcinomas which aren't super common...which if caught early do very, very well. Anyway, food for thought. Also 'whole body MRI' is gimmicky. MRI has its limitations. If you are going to do it right, you'd do a combo of MR and CT...as an example...MR doesn't do air well. If you want to look at the lungs, you're wasting your time doing an MR on the thorax. Need a chest ct for that. People could argue MR for bowel, but I too would rather go the CT route for that. I'm 48. Am I going to do this? No. But the scenarios Prasad gives...I'd gladly go the treatment rout for all three choices. That's just me. I picked up a cancer on my mother via breast tomo 5 years ago. She did great after surgery, didn't even need radiation or chemo. Would it have been better to let her die of old age etc? Maybe. Would I roll the dice there? Hell no. I do agree with him on thyroid. That damn gland is overimaged etc etc. Bane of my existence to look at thyroid ultrasounds. Thank the lawyers for that nonsense. Anyway, in general for surgery, if you aren't obese/diabetic, you tend to heal well and have good outcomes. Don't fear it.

[@chamuuemura5314]

Yeah, the thinking in this video’s overly fatalistic. It’s assuming the worst consequences of an MRI while also assuming none of the benefits. A more nuanced approach with consideration of both sides followed by personal opinions would’ve been more helpful.

[@emmaphilo4049]

Very interesting comment thank you

[@alphacentauri8083]

@willzsportscards - I live in Florida where preventive scanning companies are ubiquitous. You hear several ads on the radio daily touting the benefits of catching something early by having a full body scan done once every couple of years. Most of the marketing spokespersons are more hype than science based, but physicians looking for a quick buck are also jumping on the trend and inching towards the fear-based mindset and prompting people to get their scan done. It becomes rather confusing because people don't know anymore who to believe.

[@orion9k]

Glad to hear your mom doing well 🙏 My issue with CT is that it increases cancer 10-15years down the road. Back in 2021 had xray done due to breathing issues, they found early stage emphysema (no big deal according to them, they did not want to do anything more about it), but because i had breathing issues I pushed for a better scan, they wanted to do CT but I insisted MRI, they refused and my treatment stopped there. Oh and before the xray on thorax was done, one doctor even told me my breathing issues was all in my head and even offered to check me in at the psychiatric ER (what a fool). Anyway, my treatment stopped after being diagnosed with 'early stage emphysema not worth treating' and now in 2024 my lungs are working again, no breathing issues at all 🤷‍♂️ My hypothesis is micro clots from covid or mold toxicity from from covid supressing my immune system.

[@doctorpanigrahi9975]

I'm a doctor and My mother had Post Menopausal bleeding.. Had an ultrasound and The endometrial thickness was 9 mm . Biopsy confirmed endometrial carcinoma.. The Oncologist recommended radical hysterectomy and after the surgery and Pole mutation test , She doesn't need chemo and Radiation..

[@Argentum88]

As a practicing MRI Tech... preach brother. So many exams are already ordered on the thinnest indications or to rule out the most obscure differential diagnoses, it's insane. Plus we have a national shortage of not just doctors but techs -we are getting absolutely hammered. We do not have the manpower available to chase crap like this. If you got symptoms go ahead and get it worked up. But sometimes you're better off not opening up Pandora's box.

[@4D2M0T]

Wow that's crazy, I have been in pain for years and can't get back scanned cause doc says probably just anxiety and/or arthritis, some days I am in agony but my medical team won't even have a look what the cause is

[@SolSystemDiplomat]

Oh… okay. If you run a post contrast T1 axial and it lights up your brain like a Christmas tree… just tell the fam it’s a false positive and forget about it. Good luck!!

[@Argentum88]

@@SolSystemDiplomat First of all, finding abnormal enhancement in the Brain is a pretty rare finding overall. Second of all, not all enhancement is malignant. The contrast just shows a break in the Blood-Brain barrier but it could be a benign tumor such as a Meningioma which typically does not require intervention and at worst only monitoring. That's why the Radiologists have to train so hard and get paid so much - because there is definitely a judgement call here with critical thinking. Unlike your snide drive-by comment which clearly demonstrates your lack of understanding.

[@Argentum88]

@@4D2M0T I am sorry to hear that, perhaps you need to find another doctor to get worked up for a 2nd Opinion. Or see a pain specialist.

[@pjjmsn]

@@silentnot4812 Agree. 90% is what you put in your mouth.

[@theapretorius2743]

I thought I was the only one who had these thoughts. Thanks for sharing

[@samuelWx]

I've been practicing primary care now for twenty five years, I love these guys!

[@funeats8201]

ZDogg sucks. I lost so much respect for the medical profession because of Drs like him. No wonder America had some of the worst Covid outcomes in the world…

[@Bambina336]

My mom had something noticed on a mammogram so Dr. ordered a biopsy. On a day off that appointment, they did another mammogram and it was completely clear. We didn't speak English much at that time but I could've tell that the tech who did mammogram and the nurse, weren't in agreement with doctors order to proceed with biopsy even tho there was nothing on her scan. They couldn't even tell where to do a biopsy. Doctor used the old mammogram scan. If I knew than what I know now, I'd never allow this to happen. I had all kind of small lumps and fibroids due to estrogen dominance but once I addressed that, they all disappeared. My mom biopsy came back negative but even today, almost 30 years later, she still has pain where they cut her.

[@sl4983]

🙏💯

[@PureVapor]

How did you address your estrogen dominance? Fibroids are an issue for me, unknown cause. I’m sorry your mom still has pain, what she went through is ridiculous.

[@sl4983]

@@PureVapor Exercise, or lack of it, can address estrogen issues

[@llllllblodllllll]

"I want less information, not more, because there is a chance I might act on that information in such a way that leads to poorer outcomes." Is that the gist of this?

[@LoremIpsum1970]

The gist I got was that too many non-urgent interventions were being prescribed, and I guess as anywhere in the world resources are limited. My father has slow growing skin cancer on his scalp, diagnosed at least 10 years ago that he wasn't offered treatment for as he'd not live long enough for any negative symptoms...he's now 92 and counting.

[@llllllblodllllll]

@@LoremIpsum1970 That's not a problem with excessive information. That's a problem with poor incentive structures, a lack of information, or a lack of understanding, causing doctors to prescribe unnecessary treatments. I'm sorry to hear about your father, 92 is very impressive though. Suggesting against treatment for that reason seems criminally negligent... or an investment. Treat a relatively easy to treat cancer now, or wait and the treatment requirements, along with pain management medication turn a low value patient into an extremely high value patient. I'm extremely cynical. 🤦

[@drh255]

If your risk of a disease is low enough, even a really accurate test is more likely to give you a false positive than a true one.

[@toddrf]

More like “there is no evidence that routine full-body MRI improves all-cause mortality“.

[@FlyingDoctorC]

As a Private doctor I do not recommend these mri for folks with anxiety. The truth is the incidental lump is new data we don’t really know what to do in most cases.

[@vpfund]

Dr Sean Omara does an abdominal mri to see the visceral fat. His protocol helps reduce the visceral fat and presumably reverse disease. He said most MRI technicians don’t know how to ID visceral fat. So there’s something easily fixable that could extend healthspan that is rarely identified by the mri.

[@russoft]

I work in MRI research. We are always looking for research participants and it pays $50/hour for our high field research systems. So if you want an MRI of part of your body (which you may or may not care about), you can actually get paid for it. Time and time again, I've read articles related to physical maladies I'm struggling with. Often these articles discuss incidental and asymptomatic findings such as bulging discs, or torn labrums, etc. Such things, if the patient knows about them, might discourage them from activities that ultimately will improve their health rather than harm it.

[@russoft]

@@erica_0612 Our group is at the University of Minnesota but there are certainly others! There will be limits based on age, sex, and health depending on what is being studied.

[@tychostation2423]

You work on a 7 Tesla magnet?

[@pablodupa2329]

Where does one look up those types of opportunities?

[@russoft]

@@pablodupa2329 I'd start with a simple Google search "volunteer for MRI". You could target the searches at universities and medical centers if nothing specific comes up near you.

[@justinreilly1]

Where can I find info on these opportunities?

[@ltucker4]

I find it so refreshing to see these two Drs display humility and honestly in medicine

[@marjanm5330]

I completely agree with both of you. On balance, I think it is good to be a little attentive to your body, but I think that routine screening of healthy people (aka symptom free) is a mistake. I have 3 meningiomas (2 treated with radiotherapy). If I wanted, I could get MRIs every 6 months. However, I deliberately spread screening 2-3 years apart. Less gaudilinium, but mostly less stress, for during those years I can live as if I am fine. Which is much harder if you would screen all the time. From a patient’s perspective I think - with the level of screening and intervention that is now available - we have to educate ourselves and learn to carefully edit which tests and screenings and interventions we submit ourselves too. This isn’t easy, especially in a highly pharmacologised and data-driven society. But if you are not careful you can easily become a lifelong patient, not to mention the hugely increased anxiety and the risks of interventions. Time is a precious resource, we need to guard it, sometime even from a benevolent medical complex.

[@Aaron-cc7yq]

At this point, most specialties do not require the initial 4 years of medical school. Everything is so specialized that the specialists either don't remember anything outside of their specialty or don't want to bother with it and then just refer to another specialist, thus negating the need to have the general cross over knowledge in the 1st place

[@pjjmsn]

It seems like all they are taught is how to maximize profits for the corporations pulling the strings, and that they are gaslit into thinking that that is good medicine and the best thing for the patient.

[@veganaise2383]

Listen baybee its all about the drugs, the jabs, the slash-n-burn surgery the lies the disease-mongering the money money - honey. Its a Sickness Industry that denies what real health IS !

[@bettybaumann5824]

My sister went to a specialist, and asked him a question. He said he didn't know because that was not his field of practice.

[@Gengh13]

Seeing your visceral fat in your abdomen or the marbling in the muscles of your legs can be a powerful motivator to change your diet and exercise.

[@theapretorius2743]

You can see that without a scan

[@Gengh13]

@@theapretorius2743 you can, but you can't be completely sure and can keep making up excuses, seeing all the fat in a scan is an inexcusable image that should force you to take action and improve your health.

[@MouwDown]

Zdog peddled propaganda for the benefit of pharmaceutical companies. How much was it worth to promote bad info or did he do it for free?

[@veganaise2383]

Paid hon. Payyyyeddddd

[@IntegrityMeansAll]

I don’t understand who can listen to him for more than a couple minutes.. I don’t even know what his exact stance is because I’m not subscribed but get it suggested once in a while after a couple minutes I find the way he talks etc too much and over the top & trying so hard to flirt with his guests, so I stop listening. Too bad because it might be some interesting info here and there. But the guest seems knowledgeable. Edit: that’s his channel. I genuinely thought it was on other guy’s channel because it was suggested

[@lmk0799]

Once you've had cancer, you'll never convince me that a full body MRI yearly isnt worth the risk. What do you want to bet that doctors do their own screeninh on themselves.

[@lisawonderful2222]

take Ivermectin..for prevention it works

[@lisawonderful2222]

and maitenance

[@bassandtrebleclef]

I see a Vinay Prasad video, I click. I see Zdoc or whatever his name is, I close window. The dude's a dud.

[@tonymontana3742]

Right on! That bald dude is unhinged. I made a comment a couple of years ago and he freaked out on me, cursing and swearing.

[@lr6477]

He was a massive Covid panicker!

[@Williamottelucas]

Bald doc got it wrong - completely wrong - re Covid. Won't ever listen to him again either.

[@veganaise2383]

He's corrupt and arrogant.

[@goolagong1]

Zdog huge defender of the COVID genetic shots, laughing at "antivaxers"who decried them. Has changed his tune now in view of the shifting scenario.

[@lydiacs7789]

Great discussion. I had papillary thyroid cancer (found during an unrelated MRI). I had it removed, but I have always wondered if it was one of those things that never would have grown, never would have caused me problems (I had no symptoms, a wonderfully fully functioning thyroid, etc.). When I brought it up in my first meetings with both my surgeon and endocrinologist, they kinda acted as if I was crazy to even CONSIDER a wait-and-see approach. So I'm now on Synthroid for the rest of my life, regular blood tests and adjustments of my dose, etc....but I have always wondered if mine was a case of overdiagnosis.

[@johnpalmer5131]

Don’t forget the old adage: Surgeons cut😅

[@cathyphillips679]

My family doctor has a cartoon on the wall in her office that says " there are no healthy people. Just people who haven't had enough tests." Enough said.

[@xavierd3298]

Of course some idiot brainwashed prescription pill pushing doctor thinks this way. I remember having acne and how many prescription junk prescribed plus untimely wanting me to take a strong prescription pill that can harm the kidneys. These idiots never suggested a detox or check for parasites maybe heavy metal detox. Only when I found a knowable holistic doctor did he actually solve the problem and probably saved me from a long list of health problems those morons would have created. You only need a doctor if your in a emergency but for prevention go elsewhere

[@Hyberlol]

How can zdogg ever show his face in public again?

[@veredictum4503]

Serious question - why? I've never heard of him. Problem with the internet is, anyone with a phone can upload a video. So it'll be good to know who the shonky ones are (probably most!). But the other guy lists being a professor and oncologist, which is why I tuned in.

[@sharonferns9699]

Maybe he doesn’t have a conscience

[@MsSunstoned]

Thanks for all you do.

[@MsSunstoned]

@SaviorMoney these docs are NOT jab pushers.

[@syuill3444]

Love listening to both of you

[@elisedemerveilles3065]

Indeed, you will never know if a discovered tumor may never have killed you. You also don't know if it WOULD HAVE KILLED you if you hadn't found it early enough to get minimal treatment and a cure. When it comes to my & my family's lives, I'd rather make that call myself and determine what to do about any findings with a Dr I trust. I think making blanket recommendations about any medical testing is a bit irresponsible. The fact is some people may be better candidates for full-body MRIs than others.

[@StancyInTheCity]

Baloney, it’s saved my life. I’m in Toronto Canada so I used a company called simply MRI. Don’t let these people talk you out of preventative healthcare.

[@kylekermgard]

It's possible it saved you, but it's also possible to find something you should've left alone. They are discussing the pros and cons of it.

[@StancyInTheCity]

@@kylekermgard you can make an educated informed decision about whatever lump or bump they find. Whether it’s a brain aneurism that’s a ticking time bomb or a simple kidney cyst that can be left alone. a 30 year ICU nurse, I’d rather find out about the ticking time bomb and have it clipped and move on

[@BlueAngeluv]

I had one last year because I've had back pain since my early 20s. It's so much worse now, and my family and even the doctors thought I was faking it. Now I have proof of everything going on with my spine. I wish there was a better way, though.

[@bettyjohnson2964]

I can truly feel for you! I'm 72 and was disabled at 50 with chronic pain from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety and depression, and since then have had 5 spinal fusions, developed type 2 diabetes and arthritis. I was so tired of always being in so much pain, and doctors wondered if it was all in my head before I finally got a doctor who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia in 1995!! I'm now feeling better than I have in over 25 years, no longer type 2 diabetic, most all my pain is gone, anxiety and depression are gone, and I have energy and enjoy life again!! Also I am now off 7 of my 11 long term prescriptions! I would encourage you to check out the carnivore way of eating, or even keto. I started over 2 years ago and was amazed at how quickly I was feeling relief!! I learned a lot from Dr. Ken Berry, Dr. Shawn Baker, and Dr. Anthony Chaffee. Also hear many amazing stories of recovery on Homestead How with Kerry Mann, who is actually making a documentary on the healing power of the carnivore diet!! I decided I had nothing to lose by trying it, although it sounded too good to be true!! Hope and pray you will research it and try it and God bless you with the relief I have seen!! Best of luck to you! Hurting makes life miserable!! ❤🤗🙏🙏

[@pjjmsn]

Good you are now believed, but, as you say, it is so much worse now, meaning that the mri did not result in benefit to your back pain.

[@TheFrygar]

you didn't get a random preventative full body MRI for back pain. You probably got a spinal MRI for a specific condition, which is not at all what the Drs are talking about here.

[@anthonyomara7221]

Check out barbell medicine for management of back pain. Their podcasts and articles are great

[@Gumby1978]

I understand we have some cancers that appear then with time our body destroys it without intervention.

[@sl4983]

That's my stance

[@MK-ih6wp]

This is happening to us, all day, everyday, if you have a functioning immune system.

[@holdenrobbins852]

​@@MK-ih6wp functioning immune system is the key. Most Dr's never heard of it unfortunately. 😏

[@bettyjohnson2964]

I hear many people talk about reversing cancer with the carnivore way of eating! I have seen amazing health benefits with so many of my health issues. I'm 72 and was disabled at 50!! I love life now!!

[@Gumby1978]

@@bettyjohnson2964 I agree, eating as God intended us to eat provides for a healthier life. Also, just a small amount of exercise works miracles. God bless you.

[@johnb1983]

Please do more of this type of content with VPZD, it's been too long!

[@maggieboleyn3294]

Thanks to both of you! Good information served up with good humor.

[@SolSystemDiplomat]

Yeah, “don’t get medical treatment if you have cancer.” ZDoggMD is usually good. This excerpt is kinda scary. Please listen to your family care doctor before a KZbin doctor…. They don’t know your medical history like your PCP.

[@user-rx5vo3nt4z]

Utterly disgraceful.

[@klimraamkosie]

One of these two do not engage with differing views. I don't care what he has to say.

[@healer81]

Most of the time people lives could have been saved from shooting an mri. Not shooting one for cost or fear is a terrible argument

[@wemustbecomemachines2012]

same with going to doctors at all...49% of all doctors are below average...like this high voiced guy.

[@walterbortz355]

Very intelligent discussion guys. Overdiagnosis is a concept particularly difficult for Americans to understand yet it really is the unifying principle as to why American healthcare is so screwed up.

[@pjjmsn]

Perverse monetary incentives.

[@klimraamkosie]

It is not the unifying principle. Overdiagnosis is a problem for sure.

[@holdenrobbins852]

Here's an idea, maybe dont default to cutting things out.... maybe try adjusting your lifestyle and then do another scan to see if anything has improved (or gotten worse).

[@bettyjohnson2964]

Yes, like cutting out sugar, carbs and all the processed foods! I'm 72 and over 2 years ago I went keto then carnivore and have seen amazing results from cutting out the toxic stuff and eating a very nutritious and delicious diet!! The proper human diet does work!! Meat does heal! ❤

[@TheFrygar]

Here's an idea, if you find cancer, while you're "adjusting your lifestyle" it could be spreading around your body. That's the whole point - once you find something you now have to decide what to do, and most people don't want to live with a possible cancer that is just sitting inside their body if they have the option to get it taken out.

[@banzaipiegaming]

I already knew about this reasoning and that's not a reason that we shouldn't get screened. It's more about the reaction to the discovery that needs to be altered. For me, I'd do screening like this because if I do find something, it'll tell me if I should alter my lifestyle to be more strictly healthier and continue to monitor. So no, I don't agree with the video title imo

[@epigeneticnerd4244]

You didn’t even listen to the video obviously

[@banzaipiegaming]

@@epigeneticnerd4244 I indeed watched the whole thing. What am I missing?

[@TheFrygar]

@@banzaipiegaming you're missing literally everything. They addressed all of your points in the video. You get the scan. It finds something. You don't always know whether you should "monitor" or receive aggressive treatment. You now have to go to sleep every night wondering if the thing you found is going to kill you (psychological anxiety has physical consequences), or you are subjected to tests and procedures which each have their OWN risk associated with them. Maybe you get life altering surgery for something that WOULDN'T have caused any symptoms for the remainder of your natural life. There's a reason doctors don't recommend endless full body scans.

[@banzaipiegaming]

@@TheFrygar Maybe should reread my initial comment. You and them are assuming a lot. Which is fine because the assumed psychological and interventional response is indeed what the majority would do. I'm saying I'm not in that majority and my response to that information doesn't align with those expected assumptions which the argument is based upon. I already live my life knowing that every moment I have is a gift and tomorrow is never guaranteed. I've been living my life as if I could die at any moment due to pre existing health issues which are worse than cancer as is and I have no anxiety from it either. A cancer discovery wouldn't change a thing for me in terms of my emotional state. And given that statistical reference they provided about screening vs mortality, that itself actually provides supporting evidence for why you should just be monitoring since the probability is in favor of it. As I said I already knew that though which is why I wouldn't allow for any invasive interventions at all and just continue to monitor. Of course, it varies from person to person, in terms of who would want to know or not and personally I would much more prefer to know that I have an active malignancy than staying uncertain. Some others would rather stay oblivious and yes due to emotional reasons as you stated, but again, I'm not in that typical crowd due to my current issues already so your assumptions are not applicable and therefore neither are the arguments supporting why I shouldn't get screened. But that was all addressed in my initial comment already...

[@lmk0799]

​@TheFrygar I'm sure if you've ever had cancer, you wouldn't agree with these doctors. Why wait for a recurrence to be stage 4 and causing problems to monitor? I think not. I had thyroid cancer, 2nd cancer, and was told to wait. I didn't. It was in 5 of 11 lymph nodes. Then the doctors wanted to remove my entire thyroid even though there were no more nodules or evidence of cancer. It's the doctors, in the case of thyroid, who are ridiculously surgery happy. They keep you coming back for medications.

[@glycoboy]

So funny listening to zdogg acting like he’s not for over prescribing or over diagnosing now but during Covid he was a complete chill on almost all of it for so long. Luckily, he tried to come around to be reasonable partway through so thats at least commendable. Better than most mainstream doctors can claim.

[@OurNewestMember]

What about the scan as a baseline for future diagnostics?

[@hokiedevil]

I love segments with the two of you together, but Vinay... I watch KZbin at 1.5 speed and your pace (only yours) EXHAUSTS ME!!! Take an Ambien and don't forget to breathe. It will lower my anxiety listening. :)

[@pjjmsn]

I find that when I listen too much at too high a speed, I start to get a little stressed. I suspect the brain is not designed to absorb that much information that quickly over an extended period of time.

[@klimraamkosie]

You're speeding up the pace and then complain it's too fast. That's a you problem.

[@handlez411]

Loved this!

[@cmb9282]

Zdogg lost all credibility over covid for me. I can't even stand to see his face.

[@hannaR_]

My thoughts exactly! 🤮

[@Juangalt]

This is not very convincing. If I have a cancer that has any reasonable chance of becoming deadly I'm willing to do the chemo and the surgery.

[@WeighedWilson]

I don't go looking for trouble unless I have symptoms.

[@cky5573]

@@WeighedWilson by the time you have symptoms it’s too late

[@emmanuelking9988]

I agree 💯%

[@WeighedWilson]

@@cky5573 or the cancer never grows and you saved $100k's

[@Burgemeesterr]

You're sure? You should read something about Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer. The whole world needs to know this, but they don't want you to know. I hope it helps you.

[@kuriskoandco]

Dr. Prasad - you sound just like my husband -a diagnostic radiologist. Whole body MRI is a bad idea. Thanks for being so succinct.

[@Shwettyapple]

Enjoyed this !

[@tellmesomethinggood.]

Thanks for this perspective- I was planning for a full body scan.

[@JohnAMozzer]

I think that you’ve really confused a lot of people about this subject, Dr. Prasad, judging from the comments here and elsewhere. Prenuvo uses diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, not the myriad of other testing procedures that people are referring in comments. Maybe you could be more specific about the technology they use.

[@bjs301]

Even with cash payments, these businesses require a doctor to sign off on their procedures in many if not most states. I can't understand how the profession allows this.

[@janiceperkins4340]

They have their own doctors who actually writes the order 🤷‍♀️

[@bjs301]

@@janiceperkins4340 I know that. It's unethical, and doctors who do it should be disciplined. Does AMA even have a position? I know NIH supports it for patients who have certain predispositions, but providing it for no reason is just greed.

[@Dadnatron]

@@bjs301AMA is not a useful system. It represents fewer than 18% of physicians, primarily in academics and primarily research. They aren’t a ‘real’ representation of modern working medicine.

[@pjjmsn]

@@bjs301 AMA had a position that certain things were "safe and effective" and should be mandated. That tells you how ethical they are.

[@klimraamkosie]

This is an example of patient choice, not greed.

[@kbelle4138]

Vinay, if I may ask - what are all those beads you are wearing on your wrist? Do they mean anything or are you into crystals? Another great and informative show - thank you VPZD :)

[@HolismT]

Can anyone share the paper on melanoma over-diagnosis and the risks involved?

[@hydrobasil5020]

Here is one I had saved from 2022. I hope this helps. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9805151/

[@NicholasAndre1]

I got an MRI to measure visceral fat. Was pretty cool. There’s some sort of cyst in my kidney. As a result I did absolutely nothing however I did have a cramp there a few months ago and had a moment of panic 😂 However it did pretty well show my barrel chest. Kinda cool misshappenness.

[@theundead1600]

Love both these guys.

[@mpoharper]

Treating metastatic cancer has improved in recent years. Immunotherapy has changed stage 4 prognosis. So finding cancer before the burden is too high may be worth it. I agree about the efficacy of full body scans based on family experience. My husband had known issues not found and my daughter had a false alarm.

[@matains88]

I have polyps in my galbladder that i've been checking every year fow a while now. Should i stop checking them aswell?

[@scubarojo]

Toss in the CT scans as a point of overdiagnosis. Got one for my "heart"...the scan found other suspicion "spots". After seeing a cardiologist for an "obvious" enlarged artery from the scan, he told me to (I'm paraphrasing here), get the fu*k out of here your fine, I've got really sick people to work on. Also told me to never have a CT scan again. You two are so right about this.

[@zerstorer335]

It's an interesting idea; but I can't help but wonder if it's that helpful based on the question of how often you'd need one done to realistically catch problems in time. Would someone need to do it quarterly because whatever malady they are worried about is most treatable in the first three months? People could be getting anxiety simply over the question of how often they "should" get a scan.

[@riccihall9178]

People don't get it. People think that Dr's are God's and can cure everything.

[@kassi4837]

I think once we get to the point where we can put people in a room and and see their whole body while it's moving, see what the muscles bones and ligaments are doing, record it, for the sake of better physical therapy and identifying sources of pain.. that's ideal. Basically to identify kinetics.

[@SunsetDreamms]

Can you please do a video on Brainstem Cavernoma. Thank you. I get an MRI every year. When I got diagnosed they perfomed 10 head MRIs in one year. I thought it was excessive. Thank you for reading my comment.

[@sl4983]

You can always say you'd rather not

[@WeighedWilson]

Are they looking for a brain or a wallet?

[@Dadnatron]

This is purely CYA. If, in the future, you were to bleed… exceedingly rare and nothing to be done, you or your family could sue. No doctor is willing to put THEIR career on the line in such a manner, so they order serial exams showing they are ‘monitoring’ you, thereby insulting them from suit. If the legal system wasn’t so ‘law suit happy’, we would have better medicine. I say this as a Neurosurgeon.

[@eileenprice6909]

Just had an MRI w a SCS DRG device. Kinda terrifying trusting that all the settings worked. Went off without a hitch, but a lot of planning.

[@bernob9770]

This this the same as doing whole gen. Scan?

[@jonc67uk]

Any idea why a brain MRI would cause balance loss, exhaustion & immune system depression directly after the scan. IE balance fine going into the scan. Couldn't stand up when getting off the table due to balance loss that lasted days. honest question...

[@winsomewife7112]

Wow you guys really helped me today. I was just mentally freaking out about the weather modification program going on above my state, and you made me laugh out loud several times, which I'm sure helped my health. Laugher is like a medicine. Thank you. Do more medical humor videos I love it!! Hollywood is ruined. Your turn.

[@cmorganwpi]

Are there any studies in progress that might answer the question of the benefits of full body mri?

[@joelpollen]

Not really. I'm sure there are studies on the effectiveness of full body MRI at very specific goals, like the detection of tumors or other medical problems, but a study that could prove full body MRI extends life or improves quality of life would be enormous and incredibly expensive and I don't think such a study will ever be performed.

[@FamilyManMoving]

@@joelpollen Agree. Such a study would also have a strong selectivity bias if it used the existing community of whole-body MRI participants. The reason being that anyone getting such a service are, by definition, more involved in preventative health and also have more resources ($$) than the average. So with or without the technology, that group will always have better than average outcomes. The only way to study would be a long-term evaluation of a large cohort randomly selected from multiple groups. But there is no way to double-blind an MRI...and giving someone an MRI would "seed" wellness into their mind, which will almost surely affect behaviors that will skew outcomes in statistically significant ways. (I'm a math guy). FWIW, I'm a fan of them.

[@darrisnelson5223]

I learned so much after I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. I went cold turkey vegan after water-only fast. Had the tissue removed but did not do any other medical treatments recommended. That was 20 years ago. My bestie had a massive tumor removed from her thyroid. It was wrapped around her thyroid. She took radium pills after. 3 years clear but every 6 month check she and her husband are stressed. She had to have that thing removed but they took her thyroid and surrounding lymph glands too… I’m more concerned about that.😕

[@kimfleury]

I know a woman who turned 80 this year and has been undergoing lung cancer treatments since 2019, when she was 75. She had been a long time smoker, so she faithfully went for annual lung scans. They always found nodes, but no change year over year. The scans didn't find the lung cancer, not even when she complained of something seriously wrong with her upper back. She'd always had pain from being a waitress carrying heavy trays on her right shoulder, causing permanent damage. She left waitressing after getting her nursing license in her 30s, and worked as a nurse until 2015. She had a lower back injury from a patient encounter, had surgery for that, and had degenerative disk disease and I don't know what all else. So her complaints about her back pain increasing and changing in quality were ignored. She dokey finally got in for a scan to find diagnose that back pain, and that's when the tumor was discovered. It was growing on the outside of the lung towards the spine, and had crushed one of the vertebrae. And yet the last lung scan she had was after she started suffering that back pain, and it didn't detect the cancer. I also knew a man who went for lung scans annually because they were watching nodes. I took him to his last appointment when the lung specialist discussed the findings showing no growth over the 5 years of monitoring, and so he said no further scans were needed unless something changed. The man was hard of hearing so I was there to assist him that day. Fast forward 9 years, when he was 81, and I was acting as his medical POA. He had stopped smoking only because he had been admitted to a long-term care facility earlier that year. He was suffering dementia and congestive heart failure in addition to severe neuropathy in his legs, making him unable to walk. Stupid COVID lockdowns started 7 months after he was admitted, which made my duties difficult to say the least. Later that year they called to say that the on-site X-ray machine detected growth of the node in the same location that I recalled from 10 years earlier. Obviously at his age and with the conditions he was suffering from treatments were not advised. It would have done more harm than good. He died 7 months later of complications from congestive heart failure, but lung cancer was listed as #3 in the causes of death. He was 82. The lung scans had done nothing to change his outcome. May he rest in peace.

[@emackg1]

great conversation, hilarious as well

[@teddyknight4762]

I love you Dr. Your both a breath of fresh air. Honesty? in medicine, or anything, or is it just money anymore, I was just looking up a book I love today

[@teddyknight4762]

The book is "the solid gold stethoscope" it's hilarious and so true

[@SailorGreenTea]

2:56, this all sounds like we need upgraded doctors

[@hardtruth2039]

Zdog is a BPMD. BIG PHARMA MEDICAL DOCTOR.

[@orion9k]

It's always better to map any visable cancers in your body and you can just observe it for the next 6-12 month and then extrapolate the data.

[@jovid7]

I actually went to Prenuvo. They found a small renal cell carcinoma. It was able to be treatet minimum invasively. Ten years from now I may have woken up peeing blood and faced who knows what. I'm in the medical field and in my late 40s. My personal thoughts are that many cancers start to develop at this age and if caught early could have a very different outcome. Do what's best for you.

[@Irishrose777]

Yeah but most cancers get diagnosed at stage 3 or 4 when it’s very far progressed. Why wouldn’t you want to catch it early?

[@DrTomMD]

2:22

[@bluebunny5500]

I was a social media influencer who said. I started pushing for these while body MRI after my friend found colon cancer and 7 months later was dead. It’s like so this did save her or help her at all and that’s what your pushing for

[@tychostation2423]

Im sorry but if post contrast shows enhancement on a T1 axial brain scan, I want a biopsy. Is that false positive going to show up on a 3D FFE with 1mm slices and no gap with post processing in multiple planes? Heck if I know! But I’d rather find out. I certainly won’t be paying money out of pocket to some guru medical group trying to fear monger my hard earned cash outa me tho. If I got weird symptoms, I’ll tell my PCP and then go get imaging. I’m only 4 minutes in. I really shouldn’t comment till the video is over.

[@jdenmark1287]

Yeah it’s a case by case thing. Not all cancers are created equal. Not all people have the same risks. And what is of small benefit to an industry vs cost, could be a very high benefit to an individual.

[@lmk0799]

I had thyroid cancer on my isthmus. It was a small, 1.2cm nodule that every doctor told me to wait snd watch. I read enough of pubmed to know that nodules on the isthmus are more likely cancerous and spread to lymph nodes faster. I went to a thyroid surgery center that was willing to only remove the isthmus. It was in 5 of 11 lymph nodes. Every other doctor then wanted to remove my entire thyroid after that even though they said my lobes were "pristine". They talk out of both sides of their mouth. Luckily it was garden variety papillary. Ppl die from ignoring thyroid cancer. Dont wait and watch. It can morph into a more dangerous variety. Melanoma kills people. Dont ever ignore it.

[@jp7357]

If “we really don’t know” .. then err on the side of caution. Until “we really know” it’s a personal decision. As you said … you don’t know if full body MRI is beneficial or not. Every year I get a grail blood biopsy … my expectation is “no signal detected” so I’m never stressed.

[@Dolcedefence]

Would love to ask a question, I have had an adrenal mass they found with a ct scan in the er for diveritculitis, wonder really, because after 7 years I am having the MRI to check it. Should i or shouldn't I?

[@kittytrail]

i cannot say if you need to get a new ct or not, see your doc for trat, but you better be well aware of what happens when it goes wrong ( say like a _diverticular sigmoiditis- ) and you have just enough energy to call whatever emergency services you have in your 'hood and you better tell them it's highly likely what is happening and is going to kill you fast if not treated in a timely manner. had two cases in the family and if you don't point it out, you might end up in the freezer as it's not what comes first to most docs minds, even for ER ones. 🧐👆

[@Dolcedefence]

@@kittytrail Thanks for your replay. I have have diverticulosis and had a mild infection in the last few months, its gone with mild pain left after 3 months. I have studied it all for the past few years so I know the disease and potential complications, the sad part is is that doctors and even GI's are kind of clueless, as to what to do besides surgery and the worst black boxed antibiotics made. I had a CT back when diagnosed with the infection, this MRI is for something else but it may give a look at the diverticulosis too.

[@kittytrail]

@@Dolcedefence your options will mostly depend on where you are country wise, and what level of care you have access to or, if you're in the US, how much you're willing to pay to eliminate that risk as, iirc, it's considered as elective care/surgery and might or might not be covered by your provider or MCO. for my mother, as the night ER docs didn't manage to diagnose it correctly until an older doc came in the morning and sent her for some imagery as he was quite doubtful of his colleagues diagnostic, it took 11 days of hospitalisation with permanent antibiotics IV to get her back on her feet and three hours of interventional imaging surgery to eliminate further risks. cost was something like 20€ a day of hospitalisation for a single room as it was in France. my gf, four years later, got the same, that had been signaled by the radiologist that found her stage 4 lung cancer as a very possible eventually it could turn sour. the specialist said on a Friday afternoon there were no risk, we got back home the next day and she had the exact same symptoms as my mom on the next Tuesday evening so we didn't wait for an ambulance, put her in the car and hightailed to the hospital straight away while calling one of the docs that we were working with for her cancer, again an old guy, the ER was again clueless despite having access to all her past imagery then we got whisked away to the gastroenterology department when their head surgeon came and did what he had to do. all in all from the first symptoms at home to her entering surgery it took less than an hour and a half. she was back home 48 hours later with only a strong headache and a bit hungry and no post op complications. again, great surgeon and aftercare and a total cost of zero €. that was more than ten years ago though as today the french healthcare system is getting gradually degraded by the government so i'm not sure i'd get the same level of care if it happened to me. like you've stayed the biggest problem nowadays is getting the right diagnostic but the tiktoking ER docs make it hard as it is to get access to a non-cokehead random surgeon that didn't get his diploma as a diversity/affirmative action quota without paying tens of thousands out of pocket. 😑 wishing you the best and to find a way to get out of that risky zone. 😉

[@kittytrail]

@@Dolcedefence looks like my reply got deleted. again. 😑

[@jessicar.8404]

How about whole body MRI, but you're already committed to never using conventional therapies and will only use natural means to optimize your health?

[@embededfabrication4482]

What about noninferiority clinical trials. Nuzuera?

[@VandaPietrantonio]

I had an MRI when diagnosed with lymphoma . It showed a small lump in right breast not connected to the lymphoma. The lump was biopsied. I would not have an MRI just because I could. The breast cancer was estrogen driven. I would hate to think that the surgery and radiotherapy was not surgery but would not to take a chance that it was nothing.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

What if you just want to make artwork out of your body?

[@Scottlp2]

The biggest issue is going to be increased stress/anxiety/fear from incidental findings whether obviously benign or uncertain.

[@DynamicUnreal]

So the best thing to do is wait until someone gets a symptom and then do testing and by that time it may already be too late? Seems highly illogical to me. Millions of people worldwide could have been saved if the cancer they had would have been found early enough. Sure maybe not all cancers become deadly, but surely some of them do. The fact that 20% of all people die of cancer should raise alarms.

[@tychostation2423]

Why when I tell those in the comment section to just listen to their primary care physician that my posts get deleted?

[@rubygreta1]

In Canada, the only people who get colonoscopies are those who have symptoms and those who are at high risk. Otherwise, they do a cheap FIT test. Inquiring minds would like to know how the colon cancer death rates and diagnosis with Stage 3 or 4 colon cancer vary between the US and Canada.

[@73richg]

Saw a video this morning of Gweneth Paltrow doing a full body mri with pronuvo

[@samtjoe7797]

Except, you don’t specially or only look for cancer with a total body scan. Many other things can be looked at (e.g. veins, arteries, aneurysm) with an MRI which can be preventive. Still, awareness of any type of cancer growing inside is something I always would prefer over not knowing shit.

[@keenie7681]

Will never trust Zdog again.

[@00teatime]

What in particular happened that made you feel that way? For me it was his attack on notable voices sounding the alarm.

[@linus2020]

Because he makes too much sense? Go spend your money on a whole body MRI then. Tell us how it goes for you.

[@stewiegriffin6503]

Dr. House liked full body scan.

[@LindyKnight]

Huh what about colonoscopy?

[@leadimentoobrien1221]

Why wouldnt u know if u did a stud of of rhe tumor removed?

[@hilarystewart366]

Oh man! I want one! I also want the watch that tracks your heart and pulse! I will spend my life contemplating by belly button to see if it will explode having never really lived. Deliver me!

[@Safferpsyche]

When will Xrays be changed to Tesla rays?

[@georgeshepherd3381]

Dr. Prasad, di you know Dr. Phillip Pizzo?

[@dmdm9232]

Please speak to PET and CT scans. Are they wise or worth it? Thank you ✨

[@carolb5677]

Wait! Why is Vinay talking to him?

[@sc100ott]

As a Radiologist, the comments section here makes me very sad. Nobody knows what they are talking about. We already went through this crap with “whole body CT” (also cash on the barrel head) back in the 1990s. Long story short, DON’T get an MRI unless your doctor is specifically recommending it.

[@Mr.N0.0ne]

Most doctors are a terrible source of health advice, so relying on them to make the decisions is a bad idea too. Remember that doctors are the third leading cause of death. If I don't get cancer or heart disease, the next most likely thing to kill me is my doctor.

[@0doublezero0]

@@Mr.N0.0ne Glad to have the populist conservatives giving either their anecdotes or obfuscations on how everything is some conspiracy. So you take the #4 leading cause of death from the CDC (unintentional accidents) and act like its all doctors. Cool story bro.

[@pjjmsn]

Since the plandemic I haven't been to a doctor. My trust is gone.

[@sc100ott]

@@pjjmsn Just remember, the “whole-body MRI” is being offered by (slimy, IMO) doctors who are purely doing it for profit 💰💰💰. If you don’t trust the medical system, why would you even consider getting one?

[@Hp31242]

It’s because it literally takes years of undergrad basic science education, 4 years of medical school, years residency and endless hours of postgraduate continued medical education to scratch the surface of understanding public health/vaccination/pharmacology/pathophysiology/virology/etc in this ever evolving world. Then some dude who watched a couple of KZbin videos who can’t even spell pandemic all of the sudden has it all figured out. As if all medical people who don’t support his biases are some sort of political machine trying to - via medical interventions - take his freedoms away. There is the arrogance, not in the people who make daily educated guesses on how to practice medicine.

[@sl4983]

2:36 💯