Full body private health check ups and genetic testing for cancer

Frequently Asked Questions

Home Frequently Asked Questions

 

Before your health assessment

The Wellman and Wellwoman Screen takes approximately 30minutes for the initial consultation and physical examination, followed by the blood tests and ECG. The Elite Wellbeing Screen takes abouts an hour followed by bloods and ECG. The Over. 70’s check takes 60-90 minutes. 

Yes – the clinician who carries out your health assessment will explain each test as they go. If you do not want to have the test, you can decline it.

You do not need to fast for any of the blood tests/investigations

It is advised that you wear comfortable and flexible clothing (loose top/tracksuit/shorts) and trainers as you may be required to complete some form of exercise during your assessment.

Absolutely, you can bring anyone you would like to bring into the assessment room with you.

There is a minimum age restriction of 18 years old. We cannot perform health assessments on anyone under 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit.

All assessments will be carried out by Dr Shonella Singh. If you would like to have a chaperone during the examination, do let Dr Singh know and this can be easily arranged at the time.

As part of the UK national screening guidelines, smear tests should be carried out everyt 3 years from the age of 25-50 and every 5 years from 50-64. If you have not had one done, this can be arranged at the clinic for you.

As part of the Elite Wellbeing Screen, you will be provided with a FIT stool sample kit, which screens for bowel cancer, by looking for traces in blood in your stool which is not visible with the naked eye. The instructions of how to collect the sample will be provided to you. It will then need to be posted in the pre-paid envelope along with the request form to the laboratory to process the results. The results will then be shared with your doctor who will then discuss this with you at your follow-up appointment. 

Whilst there is no right answer for this, I advocate for annual health screening. 

WB MRI Scan

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MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues within the body. This includes the brain, spinal cord, bones, and organs like the liver, lungs, kidneys, bladder, pancreas, spleen, uterus, ovaries and prostate.

Many traditional methods of imaging, like X-rays and CT scans, use radiation to create pictures of the inside of the body. While these tools are effective, there's a small risk associated with exposure to radiation over time. Whole body MRI scans offer a significant advantage here because they don't use radiation at all. This makes them a safer option for repeated use, especially in individuals who need regular monitoring.

WB-MRI is increasing used in Cancer Screening pathways to detect cancers in the general population given its high sensitivity and because MRI does not involve ionising radiation. It is believed that earlier detection and appropriate targeted interventions can modify the risk of disease development and so promote precision health.

The coverage of a standard WB-MRI is “eyes-to-thighs” with good sensitivity (up to 90%) for bone and soft tissue tumours greater than 1 cm (note: the WB-MRI protocols do not cover the lower arms).

WB-MRI examinations are not performed to assess skin and subcutaneous tissues, which are best assessed by clinical examination (as done at Measure Health). There are other ‘blind spots’ for whole-body MRI, including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, breast, and cervix. However, these are not necessarily major drawbacks because whole-body MRI is never recommended as a substitute to the standard screening tests, which include faecal occult blood testing or colonoscopy, mammography, and cervical smears. This is why, WB MRI scanning should be conducted alongside a thorough history, clinical examination and blood, urine and stool analysis, by an experienced clinician to have a complete and thorough assessment. 

WB-MRI is a radiation-free imaging technique, however the findings on WB-MRI are not always definitive. Sometimes follow-up or more dedicated tests including blood tests, more imaging or even a biopsy maybe needed to know the nature of abnormalities that we see.

According to the most recent data in the scientific literature, WB-MRI has a good sensitivity (up to 90%) for the diagnosis of malignant tumours of more than 1cm in size. However, as with all other tests exclusion of a malignant tumour can never be absolute.

At Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, we have examined the largest number of WB-MRI cases in the world at a single site, which has allowed us to define its role in cancer care, via scientific publications and contributions to cancer care guidelines.

Our MRI scanners have always been “best in class” machines with a regular replacement programme. For example:
In 2005 we installed the first UK 3T scanner for clinical use. Currently, our Siemens 3T PrismaFit clinical scanner has the highest gradient performance available on the market.

Our Siemens 1.5T AvantoFit scanner is regarded as the best machine ever produced by Siemens Healthineers.
A third scanner operating at 1.5T (Siemens Aera 64), installed in July 2018, expanded our capabilities because it has a larger bore enabling larger patients and those with claustrophobia to be examined in greater comfort.
 

While whole body MRI scans are a powerful tool for cancer screening, their benefits don't stop there. They can also help in detecting a variety of other medical conditions early, from infections and inflammatory conditions to issues with blood vessels in the brain ( aneurysms). MRI scans provide clear and detailed images.

After your health assessment

During your assessment, the test results available on the day will be discussed with you. However, certain tests, like specific blood tests, will need to be sent away for further analysis and won't be ready for discussion during the assessment itself. These additional results will be included in your written personalised report and discussed with you during your follow-up appointment. On average, it takes approximately 1 week to receive all the results. 

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