• This topic has 42 replies, 32 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by DrP.
Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 43 total)
  • If you could get a fully body scan and genetic profiling would you do it?
  • wanmankylung
    Free Member

    If you had the option of getting a full body MRI and genetic profiling – would you want to know what had the potential to kill you?

    I’m not sure that I would.

    mikey74
    Free Member

    No. It plays on people’s insecurities and makes a profit from it.

    Kuco
    Full Member

    No, I couldn’t lay still long enough to have a full body MRI.

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middling Edition

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middlin...
    Latest Singletrack Videos
    Tom_W1987
    Free Member

    Genetic profiling maybe, I’d be quite happy to give my DNA profile to researchers if it helps develop personalized medicine. One day it will be an integral part of healthcare.

    As for the full body scan, no.

    benji
    Free Member

    I would like the genetic testing, as there is genes to show how well you respond to training. It wouldn’t stop me riding my bike, but it would just be nice to know if I had trained harder whether it would have really paid off.

    wilburt
    Free Member

    If I had the money yes.

    My brother had a heart problem the NHS couldn’t properly diagnose. He went to Harley street had some super dooper kind of scan, they found a problem, put a couple stents in and he now runs a decent marathon time.

    Without the hi tec scan it could have been a different story.

    ton
    Full Member

    no. life is for living, not for worrying about something that may or may not happen to you.

    iainc
    Full Member

    Hmmmm, dunno. Was recently diagnosed, at age 48, with prostate cancer, which 10 yrs ago would not have been picked up. So I guess early screening and intervention is good…I hope..

    tomhoward
    Full Member

    I would, but then I’m already type 1 diabetic with a long family history of bowel cancer, so it’d be nice to see If there’s goona be any variety

    oldnpastit
    Full Member

    There was a thing on Radio4 about this a while ago, I think the statistics programme.

    If everyone starts getting routine MRI scans, then the problems caused by unnecessary treatments on people with false positives will far outweigh the benefits to a few people who get treated a bit earlier. That’s because there are a lot more healthy people in the general population than unhealthy ones.

    But it’s a good way to make money from gullible healthy people, so I’m all for it.

    timidwheeler
    Free Member

    I’ve been done (up to a point)
    My family have a horrendous gene which causes very early cancer. I was DNA tested, after a lot of soul searching, and I don’t have it!
    No annual colonoscopies for me!
    Happy days!
    Gutted Mum.

    Scienceofficer
    Free Member

    Yes. It would allow me to target appropriate risk factors

    P-Jay
    Free Member

    I managed to get my whole body scanned and x-rayed after my last big crash – I did mention at the time “well at least I’ll know if there’s anything else wrong with me” and my consultant said something along the lines of the chances of finding any one of the thousands of things that could be wrong with you without at least half a clue what to look for was tiny.

    As for DNA profiling a decent family history would tell you more imo.

    Tracker1972
    Free Member

    Yes, I think the whole thing would be interesting as long as I got to keep a copy of the “pictures” to play with. Only if it was free as part of some research or I become unexpectedly massively wealthy.

    iolo
    Free Member

    You die in the end, somehow or so stop caring when it happens.
    Say you got a scan that said you’ll die next year.
    What does that achieve? Nothing but worry.
    Enjoy life,enjoy family and friends, do the things you always wanted to do without having that niggle.
    You could get hit by a bus tomorrow and die amongst strangers on the street. Would the full body scan pick that up?
    Use the cost of the scan and treat yourself to whatever you actually want – bike, holiday, whatever.

    dudeofdoom
    Full Member

    Yep…..

    Picked up my crazy cholestral levels with blood tests – (not sure about the whole cholestral thang but going thru family’s history most of the males copped it with heart attacks – strange none of the family ever mentioned it)

    And allergy tests found allergy to tree pollen ….so quick squirt up nose and constant blocked nose sorted.

    and a specialist diagnosed out my eye issues and explained how to manage it and basically told me about other interesting defects I’ve got. 🙂

    So prewarned can let you get the most out of what you have…I’m not worried about mortality just don’t want to go out unecesserally early..

    iolo
    Free Member

    Don’t you have a GP/ Nurse who can carry out these tests for free?

    hilldodger
    Free Member

    Had the chance for MRI and CT scans when I was working in that field as a tech, didn’t get them analysed by a medic though but to my mere scientust eyes didn’t see anything that made me worried.
    Have also had genome sequenced but didn’t bother to run it through the s/w for analysis.
    Not really interested in pre-emptive medical intervention in the absence of risk factors or symptoms, for my lifestyle & family history I’m far more liable to death by unforeseeable trauma or acute infectious disease – bring it on, could be tomorrow or 50+ years time.

    Rorschach
    Free Member

    Oh god no!!
    There’s a chance I could be fully healthy and have the potential to live to a ripe old age.The only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is the forlorn hope that I could quit this mortal coil at any minute and finally cease having to endure the interminably pointless hell of living on a planet with 6 billion morons.

    maccruiskeen
    Full Member

    Theres an interesting article/podcast by freakenomics about screening and Huntingdons.

    Thats a situation where theres a test that can detect the condition early – but diagnosed or not theres pretty much nothing you can do about it. Its interesting seeing how detrimental to mind, health, carreer and relationships having that advanced warning turns out to be to people who’ve taken the test – even the person who developed the test – and has a family history of Huntingdons herself – won’t take it.

    j450n
    Free Member

    Yes I would, to preempt stuff, and benefit science & mankind.

    I also would like cyborg upgrades & dna manipulation.

    slowoldman
    Full Member

    Yes I would. I would then know whether I should invest my pension lump sum or blow it on coke and hookers.

    athgray
    Free Member

    Interesting this crops up. I am currently going through genetic councilling to see if I have s 50% chance of inheriting Huntington’s Disease. My mum was diagnosed earlier this year.

    DrP
    Full Member

    I believe the evidence suggests that a ‘full body scan, just in case’ actually ends up causing more harm than good..
    This is especially so for brain scans.

    Of course, in the presence of significant, targeted symptoms then a scan/test is an aid…

    DrP

    slowoldman
    Full Member

    I believe the evidence suggests that a ‘full body scan, just in case’ actually ends up causing more harm than good..

    Ooh. Show us the evidence.

    maccruiskeen
    Full Member

    Ooh. Show us the evidence.

    Theres studies in the link I posted above – not so much about the medical side as the psychological – knowing too much about your future can effect your self-worth. People who’ve had early diagnosies of serious conditions fair badly in their education and employment, get into bad relationships and so on. It seems the information is quite a serious burden.

    Any of us could get hit by a bus tomorrow, but thats different to knowing that the buses are aiming for you.

    mikertroid
    Free Member

    I’ve had full blood tests, MRI scans, chest X-rays, all manner of heart tests for prospective employers.

    I guess it’s nice to get a proper check-up now and again. Not sure about genetics; opens up cans of worms with kids etc.

    ourmaninthenorth
    Full Member

    No. I have very specific MRI every two years to see if the warning signs I have now will turn into anything (and if they do at what level and rate of seriousness). Because I’m at risk of something that is often shown to be genetic in origin (though see no obvious family history), I don’t want the burden of knowing (or chance of a false positive) or the pressure it puts my family (esp. offspring) under.

    Best to plan for the worst, and live for the best.

    DrP
    Full Member

    The evidence is probably sat in the recycling bin at the moment (BMJ or the like)… Will look in the morning if I remember!

    I guess it’s nice to get a proper check-up now and again.
    This is the thing.. It isn’t!
    Or put more usefully – “can a test be harmful?”
    Well, yes, if it’s unnecessary and not indicated.

    A bit like chaps asking for a PSA test “to check for prostate cancer just in case” in the absence of symptoms.

    DrP

    iainc
    Full Member

    A bit like chaps asking for a PSA test “to check for prostate cancer just in case” in the absence of symptoms.

    . Having 3 weeks ago had a prostatectomy this one is close to my heart. Initially asked gp a yr ago about getting up most nights for a pee, which led to a PSA test which was slightly high. Checked again 6 months later and a little higher. So then biopsy ‘just in case’ and bang, cancer diagnosis. I guess I’m maybe lucky having caught it early and getting positive treatment, but weird having never had mucn in way of symptoms. Also cannae sleep 🙁

    DrP
    Full Member

    I’m glad your symptoms (peeing at night) led to further investigations -PSA check and the like..

    Prostate cancer can be a tricky one, in the sense that some men have it, yet it will NEVER make them ill, cause symptoms, or be the cause of their death…
    What do you do of you find it in this population?

    Medicine’s a tricky job!

    DrP

    (I’ve got a milk-drunk newborn in my arms currently!)

    King-ocelot
    Free Member

    Yes, because I find these advances in healthcare fascinating,( however not fascinating enough to fund it myself nor would I expect it in the NHS). If for example it pinpointed a risk of something I wouldn’t spend my time worrying about it. I have had illness before out if the blue and know life’s for enjoying.

    Every male on my dad’s side, who I know of, who has passed away has done so from a huge stroke, my grandfather, his father, his uncles, both his brothers, my uncle. So if medicine could pinpoint a risk and I could adjust my life or medicine to help with that I would.

    timba
    Free Member

    DrP got there before me…when will you develop this illness that you have the wonky gene for? Will you develop this illness within your lifetime?

    How will knowing affect your life, particularly if the illness can’t be treated? Have you got children?
    Will you have children, or not, because they might possibly inherit the condition? How will knowing affect their life?

    Some conditions can’t be detected because the gene change hasn’t been found yet, the inherited MND gene change was only found in 2011 after nine years of searching. This is where the research will help, but it brings you right back to point 1 above

    There’s plenty of accidental/criminal stuff that’s equally likely to see you off and you can’t test for that. I’m spending my money on something that my family will enjoy

    FunkyDunc
    Free Member

    I think its a dangerous thing. It may show you are predisposed to a condition or disease, and then you spend your life miserable, trying to ward it off.

    As one person said above, you could be tested as a genetic link in the family to a type of cancer. You may get the all clear to then find you later get a different cancer.

    Also I thought genetic stuff could skip generation’s?

    We all have to go some way or other, live your life how things are dealt to you IMO

    scaredypants
    Full Member

    You mean some of you people don’t even know whether you have the awesomeness gene ?

    (mind, they still can’t tell me whether it’ll kick in during my lifetime 🙁 )

    jet26
    Free Member

    Potential minefield. As many have said can do harm as well as good.

    Other side is mortgages, life insurance etc – if screening becomes widespread they may ask to see results before agreeing. Same with health insurance.

    The psychological impact on the individual is also potentially huge – that and many current medical treatments are to treat NOT prevent disease. No point finding something if you still have to wait anyway. Well there is for a symptomatic conditions.

    Whole body CT has downsides – some argument to stop using in trauma unless indicated (from Germany)

    grahamt1980
    Full Member

    I would support double blind genetic screening for research.
    Like others not convinced due to insurance and bits like that. In addition most people don’t understand risk and probability so would likely cause more stress than is worthwhile.
    The research will be worth it. The advances that are on the way with personalised medicine will be astonishing

    Nobby
    Full Member

    Hmmm, this is a subject I’m too close to at the minute. Nobby Jr was born with a congenital heart disease which, in 98% of cases, is inherited from a parent. Neither Mrs Nobby or I show any symptoms so we are being asked to undergo genetic profiling to ascertain whether one of us carries the defect or that Jr is actually ‘ground zero’ in our family.

    This in itself opens up a whole can or worms. Should one of us prove positive then it follows that every other blood relative on that side of the family should be tested too, particularly as this condition is a common cause of SADS and the like.

    As a household we’re already split on this as I’m glad we know about Jr but the Mrs would rather not – it’s not a ‘denial’ thing, she just has a propensity to worry & this hasn’t helped over the years. That said, I still can’t decide whether I want to know about me/my side of the family as I’d not want put them in the position of having to make the decision.

    What’s worse, giving them a reason to get tested or waiting to see if something bad happens knowing it might have been possible to prevent it? TBH, I haven’t a clue.

    iainc
    Full Member

    DrP – Member
    I’m glad your symptoms (peeing at night) led to further investigations -PSA check and the like..

    Prostate cancer can be a tricky one, in the sense that some men have it, yet it will NEVER make them ill, cause symptoms, or be the cause of their death…
    What do you do of you find it in this population?

    Medicine’s a tricky job!

    DrP

    yes, but I guess my point was 10 yrs ago I’d have been told, hey you’re 48, most folk your age get up to pee at night ! Difference now is that there is a more accepted medical approach to screening, using PSA etc, when there are minimal triggers, no family history, age etc. So from that aspect it’s good (I think). My sons are 12 and 8 and I’ve been told that they should go onto PSA screening in their 30’s as a result of my diagnosis, which much as I fear it, I think is a good thing. I hope that medicine finds a better cure for prostate cancer in the next 20 yrs though so if they develop it they can take some meds rather than get cut open 😯

Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 43 total)

The topic ‘If you could get a fully body scan and genetic profiling would you do it?’ is closed to new replies.