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1 month ago
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Most people spend their lunch breaks grabbing a sandwich or going for a walk.
But soon it could be possible to get a full-body MRI scan which detects the earliest stages of cancer during your lunch hour, thanks to AI.
Health tech pioneer Ezra has launched its screening service in the UK, marking a major expansion beyond the US.
Their AI-powered scans currently last an hour and cover 13 organs, with the added option of an extra lung CT scan and heart disease screening.
As cancer rates are rising – especially among young people – the company say they are the best defence against the disease.
With early detection, treatment can start earlier and prognosis improves dramatically.
The AI technology has already significantly reduced scan times to just one hour and provided a scoring system to help doctors prioritise findings.
A 13-organ full body scan currently costs £2,395 while the ‘plus’ option to cover the lungs and heart is an extra £300.
The MRI scan currently takes about an hour, but experts say this could soon be reduced to just 15 minutes with the help of AI
Scan results showing the brain, spine, pelvis and abdomen. Any abnormalities will be flagged to the patient, who can then take the scans to their GP for further investigation
But as it continues to advance, the time could be reduced to just a quarter of an hour – and it could eventually cut the cost of a full-body checkup under £400.
Cancer Research UK reports a 24 per cent increase in cancer diagnoses among people in their 40s and 50s since 1995.
Despite advances in treatment, nearly half of all cancer cases in the UK are still diagnosed at late stages, limiting treatment options and outcomes.
Ezra say their mission is to shift this dynamic by making AI-powered early screening more accessible to those who may benefit from proactive monitoring of the disease.
This includes those with a family history of cancer or who have other risk factors.
‘Having witnessed the impact of late-stage cancer diagnosis in my own family, I understand the critical importance of early detection,’ said Emi Gal, CEO and founder of Ezra.
‘Our mission is to make comprehensive cancer screening fast, accurate and affordable.’
The company has partnered with Alliance Medical, who offer the full-body scan at their Marylebone clinic in London.
Patients can easily access their scan results online. Ezra say they are trying to help people detect issues before any symptoms appear
There is already a waiting list in place, with plans for a nationwide rollout throughout the year.
‘What we’re really trying to do is we’re trying to help people find things before they have symptoms,’ Mr Gal told MailOnline.
‘Generally, if you have symptoms, it’s too late.
’So really what you want to do is you want to find cancer before it’s symptomatic when it’s at its earliest stages, because that’s when it’s most curable.’
All scans are analysed by an Ezra doctor, with the help of AI, and any issues discussed with patients which can then be brought up with their own GP.
‘So 6 per cent of our members have found possible cancer, and we have stories from members who found cancer, got treated and now they’re cancer-free,’ Mr Gal explained.
‘I think there’s a future in which we have a 15-minute, $500 (£379) scan available to everyone.’
Ezra’s full-body scan covers the brain, spine, gallbladder, spleen, thyroid, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, adrenal glands, ovaries, uterus and the prostate.
Mr Gal says 6 per cent of their patients have detected possible early signs of cancer - some of whom have since had treatment
Early detection can dramatically improve cancer survival rates, yet 50 per cent of cancers in the UK are diagnosed at late stages,’ said Dr Dan Brook, Ezra's UK Medical Director.
‘Our technology provides a powerful new tool for early detection, particularly for individuals with family history or elevated risk factors.’
‘We are delighted to introduce full-body MRI screening in partnership with Ezra,’ Peter Winchester, Managing Director of Alliance Medical UK, said.
‘Its AI-driven approach represents the future of early cancer detection, and we are excited to integrate this technology into our imaging services to enhance diagnostic precision and accessibility.’
MY EZRA SCAN EXPERIENCE
By Xantha Leatham, Executive Science Editor
I was invited along to the clinic in Marylebone to try out Ezra’s screening service, and was told the following week that I had an ‘unremarkable brain’.
While this would perhaps prompt a few laughs from friends, it was in fact a huge relief – as my father was diagnosed with a brain tumour in his 50s.
Cancer has been quite rife within my family, and it’s something that I’m all too familiar with.
While I’m only in my 30s, I’ve thought for a while about how I’d love to have a full-body scan to make sure everything is ticking away as it should.
The scan was quick, easy and the radiologist who looked after me was lovely. Less than a week later I received an email with my results and booked in a call with Dr Dan Brook.
Luckily, everything looked absolutely fine with no cause for concern.
I’ve spent the last five years writing health and science stories – many about cancer – and it’s so clear that early detection really is vital.
And while the price tag is a bit much for me to currently commit to every year, a future £400 scan is something definitely worth considering.
My brain scan results showed there was 'no evidence of cancer' and no follow-up actions were necessary
