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General health

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Original poster

MRI Scan....

7 replies

Flowertop · 03/02/2008 10:43

Just as a matter of interest does anyone know if you can buy an MRI scan and if so how much you are likely to pay?
Has anyone else done this?
XX

OP posts:

Pheebe · 03/02/2008 11:28

If your doctor decides you need one you can always pay for one privately. You can't just decide you want one though, has to be done through a doc and has to be a medical need for one
hth

Wisteria · 03/02/2008 11:36

What do you need an MRI for Flower?

You'd have to have a gp referral but you can opt to pay for it yourself if you don't want to wait - the costs vary on which part of the body needs to be scanned but you're looking at upwards from £500 according to this.

I believe that you can get a scan done 'elsewhere' without being referred but I would not advise it as you have no guarantees that it would be done ethically or safely.

Wisteria · 03/02/2008 11:37

oops - x-posted with Pheebe (went for a wee half way through posting

Original poster

Flowertop · 03/02/2008 13:33

Thanks for replies. We seem to have a history of cancer in the family - mum died of bladder, sister died of ovarian, niece just operated on for tumour on pancreas. Now I know they are different areas and could be just a coincidence but I would like to be thoroughly checked to make sure I don't have anything. I lost my mum at 9 and have just lost a great friend (who has left two DC's 5 and 7) and it has just made me think that I need to make sure I do everything to be here for my two DS's. It really scares me and seems to be on my mind at the moment.
Thanks again
XX

OP posts:

tissy · 03/02/2008 13:40

I understand your concerns, but I doubt if you be able to get a "just in case" total body scan, even privately. The radiologists who report the scans have to know what they are looking for, and that is just too vague.

Anyway, if you had a scan and it was reported as clear, how could that reassure you? You might start to grow a tumour the next day.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to live your life as healthily as you can, and visit your doctor if you have any prolonged symptoms.

Wisteria · 03/02/2008 14:04

Tissy is right, with no symptoms it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

As she wisely says, it won't help you anyway as how would you know something hadn't come about after the scan - it's a sure road to wasting your life worrying about when it's over instead of concentrating on enjoying it.

Pheebe · 03/02/2008 16:56

Ahh I see flower, in your circumstances I might think about a regular full medical checkup. You'd have to go privately for that (sure bupa or some such will do them). Perhaps an annual checkup and as tissy says a healthy lifestyle. Also be 'body aware', be aware of whats normal for you so you can pick up on anything unusual. BTW when cancer runs in a family its generally the same type of cancer i think.

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