Full body MRI?

NTS

Is there such a thing as a full body MRI? Just wondering, since they can do one on your brain and breasts, can it also be done to check for mets in the rest of the body? I would really prefer this over any additional PET or CT scans in the future, if it’s even an option

gb2115

I have never heard of something like this. I don't think it works like that. If lots of areas require contrast vs no contrast it would be hard to do it all at once I think. It would also take forever...my last breast MRI a couple of weeks ago took forever. Imagine your entire body...

Meow13

My breast surgeon ordered a breast mri and all major torso organs. Twenty minutes for breasts and another 15 minutes for the torso. No brain mri, but oncologist recommended it because of brain aneurysm history for my father.

I haven't had the brain mri yet. It does make you feel better when you get the thumbs up.

Anonymous

I think most oncologists will order a PET scan before determining a path of treatment, especially if any lymph nodes are positive. At least that is what I remember.

MRIs are a snapshot of a particular region of our bodies, and I've never heard of a full-body MRI ordered by any doctor. You have the right to ask and have a conversation about it with your doctor, though, anytime.

Claire in AZ

chronicpain

As claireinaz said, a PET is preferred, and more practical, if docs are just hunting for occult cancer spread. But because BC likes to go to bones, a bone scan (cheaper and more specific) is usually preferred in stages where suspicion is low

In the past I had no problem with brain and knee MRI as I lay on my back ( on a cushion), but try as I did, mightily, I could not tolerate the position for bilateral breast MRI when first diagnosed on the left last fall. I did not have the strength to get into a proper position and the hard machine pushed horribly on my sore chest wall muscles. They would have to knock me out and lift me like a slab to do it