When a health condition is identified can influence the treatment options available, particularly for certain cancers. Survival rates vary considerably depending on how far cancer has spread at diagnosis, while conditions such as high blood pressure and prediabetes can develop without noticeable symptoms.
Earlier identification can create opportunities for treatment, monitoring or lifestyle changes, although the benefits depend on the condition and a person's individual circumstances. Here is what the data shows across nine health conditions.
1. Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a good example of just how much outcomes can differ depending on the stage at diagnosis. The five-year relative survival rate (the likelihood of being alive five years later compared with similar people without that cancer) for non-small cell lung cancer is 67% when the cancer is diagnosed at a localized stage, meaning it’s still contained inside the lung. This drops to 40% for regional cancer that has spread outside the lung to nearby structures or lymph nodes. And this declines to 12% when the cancer is distant, meaning it’s spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain, bone, liver, or other lung.
But identifying lung cancer at a more localized stage can be challenging. One reason is that most lung cancers don’t cause noticeable symptoms until they have spread. When symptoms do occur, they can include a cough that doesn’t go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, or coughing up blood.
Lung cancer’s stage can also affect which treatments are appropriate. Stage I non-small cell lung cancer, for instance, may be treated with surgery to remove the tumor, and for some people, surgery may be the only treatment needed. For stage IV disease, treatment depends on how and where the cancer has spread and may include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, radiation and, in some cases, surgery. The specific approach depends on factors such as the characteristics of the cancer and a person’s overall health.
The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for certain adults at higher risk of lung cancer. LDCT uses a lower dose of radiation than a standard chest CT and is recommended for adults ages 50 to 80 who currently smoke or previously smoked and have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history. One pack-year is equivalent to smoking one pack of cigarettes daily for one year.
Because lung cancer screening isn’t recommended for everyone as a part of routine care, proactive imaging may provide an opportunity to help identify certain structural abnormalities in the chest that may otherwise be missed without screening. Low-dose CT (LDCT) is the recommended screening method for people who meet lung cancer screening criteria. Prenuvo’s Whole Body Scan is not designed to screen specifically for lung cancer and does not replace recommended LDCT screening.
2. Prostate cancer
The five-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer is greater than 99% for both localized prostate cancer, which hasn’t spread outside the prostate, and regional prostate cancer, which has spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes. But in distant prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, that statistic drops to 38%.
For prostate cancer, however, stage isn’t the only factor that influences what happens next. Providers look at a patient’s:
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level: The level of a protein made by cells in the prostate gland that can be measured in the blood.
- Grade group: A system ranging from 1 to 5 that describes how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope and can help indicate how likely the cancer is to grow and spread.
- Tumor stage: How large or extensive the cancer is and whether it has spread beyond the prostate.
These factors help a provider place prostate cancers into risk groups, which can help guide treatment and management decisions.
And not all prostate cancers require immediate treatment. Some grow very slowly and may never cause health problems. So some people with very low-risk prostate cancers may be recommended to use an active surveillance approach, which involves monitoring the cancer closely through regular PSA blood tests, digital rectal exams, prostate biopsies, or MRI, with a plan to treat it if tests show that it's starting to grow faster. Another approach is watchful waiting, which involves fewer tests and relies more on changes in symptoms to determine whether treatment is needed.
Higher-risk or more advanced prostate cancers may require treatment rather than monitoring. Depending on the cancer’s stage and other characteristics, treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of treatments.
3. Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer outcomes can also differ substantially depending on how far the cancer has spread. For localized kidney cancer, the five-year relative survival rate is 93%. It’s 76% for regional cancer and drops to 19% for distant cancer.
Kidney cancer may not cause symptoms when it is small and confined to the kidney. Because the kidneys are located deep inside the body, smaller tumors generally can’t be seen or felt during a physical exam. Some earlier stage kidney cancers are actually found incidentally when a person has imaging for another reason. When symptoms do occur, they can include:
- Blood in urine
- Low back pain on one side
- A mass on the lower back or side
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Anemia
- An ongoing fever
The size and location of the tumor, whether it has spread outside of the kidney, and a person’s overall health all play a role in treatment decisions. Some small tumors may be monitored with active surveillance. And others that are confined to the kidney may be treated by removing part or all of the kidney. More advanced kidney cancers may require treatments such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
A kidney abnormality found during imaging doesn’t necessarily mean kidney cancer. Some kidney tumors are benign. Additional testing or evaluation may be needed to determine what the finding is and whether it requires monitoring or treatment.
4. Colorectal cancer
Colon cancer outcomes can differ substantially depending on the stage at diagnosis. The five-year relative survival rate is 91% for localized colon cancer, 74% for regional cancer, and 13% for distant cancer.
This cancer also has well-established screening options. The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk start getting regular screening at age 45. You’re considered to be average risk if you do not have:
- A personal history of colorectal cancer or certain types of polyps
- A family history of colorectal cancer
- A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease
- A confirmed or suspected hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- A personal history of radiation to the abdomen or pelvic area to treat a previous cancer
Screening options include stool-based tests and visual exams like a colonoscopy and CT colonography. During a colonoscopy, healthcare providers are able to remove precancerous polyps, which can help prevent colorectal cancer from developing. And if a non-colonoscopy screening test comes back abnormal, it should be followed by a timely colonoscopy. People who are considered to be at an increased or high risk may need to start screening earlier or be screened more often.
Prenuvo’s Whole Body Scan may help identify potential abnormalities in the abdomen, including changes in the lymph nodes or liver. It is not designed to screen for colorectal cancer or detect colon polyps and does not replace colonoscopy or other recommended screening tests.
Related: What’s the difference between whole body MRI and traditional cancer screening?
5. Ovarian cancer
The five-year relative survival rate for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (cancer that starts in the cells covering the outer surface of the ovary) is 92% for localized cancer, 71% for regional cancer, and 32% for distant cancer. When ovarian cancer first develops, it may not come with noticeable signs. As the disease progresses, this can lead to symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Back pain
- Changes in bowel habits
- The need to urinate more frequently
- Weight loss
- Feeling full faster when eating
- Abdominal swelling or bloating
Many of these symptoms can overlap with other conditions, which can cause them to be attributed to other things. This can make ovarian cancer more difficult to recognize based on symptoms alone. In fact, research shows that only about 20% of ovarian cancers are found at a localized stage.
How far the cancer has spread can also influence treatment. For some stage I ovarian cancers, surgery may be the only treatment needed, while others may require chemotherapy after surgery. The extent of surgery can also vary depending on the cancer and whether preserving fertility is a consideration. More advanced disease typically involves surgery plus chemotherapy, sometimes along with targeted therapies.
Unlike several other cancers, there is currently no recommended routine screening test for people at average risk who don't have symptoms. And small tumors in the ovaries can often go undetected during regular pelvic exams. Researchers have studied tests such as transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 blood testing, but these have not been shown to reduce ovarian cancer deaths when used to routinely screen average-risk women.
Prenuvo's Whole Body Scan provides structural images of the abdomen and pelvis, including the ovaries, and may help reveal findings that prompt additional evaluation. The scan cannot reliably rule out ovarian cancer or replace appropriate gynecological care. If you have persistent symptoms like those listed above, see your healthcare provider.
Related: Early cancer detection screens aren’t just for high-risk people
6. Brain aneurysms
A brain aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning that forms in a weakened area of a blood vessel in the brain. Around 6.8 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm, and many may not know it. That’s because many unruptured brain aneurysms don’t cause symptoms, particularly when they’re small. Some are discovered by chance during imaging performed for another diagnostic reason, while others aren’t discovered until after they rupture.
Most brain aneurysms don’t rupture and not every unruptured aneurysm requires treatment. Some aneurysms can simply be monitored to make sure they don’t grow in size. Factors like the aneurysm’s size, location and appearance, as well as a person’s age, overall health, and family history, help to determine whether an aneurysm should be monitored or treated.
When treatment is needed, it can include microvascular clipping, a process in which a tiny metal clip is placed at the base of the aneurysm to stop blood from flowing into it. Another option is endovascular embolization, where a small tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery and threaded to the aneurysm. Devices such as coils or a flow diverter can also be used to reduce blood flow into the aneurysm.
A ruptured aneurysm can cause serious health problems such as a stroke, coma, brain damage, and in some cases, death. Statistics show that about 25% of people who experience a ruptured aneurysm die within 24 hours. And another 25% have complications that lead to death within a period of six months.
Prenuvo’s Advanced Brain Health Scan provides information about brain structure and blood vessels, and may help identify brain aneurysms. Findings may provide additional information for discussion with your healthcare provider.
7. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but are not yet high enough to meet the criteria for type 2 diabetes. It often has no obvious symptoms, leaving 8 in 10 adults with the condition unaware that they have it. Blood testing can be an important way to identify it, as it can be flagged from an elevated:
- Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test: Measures your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. An A1C of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, while 6.5% or higher falls within the diabetes range.
- Fasting blood sugar test: Measures your blood sugar after fasting for at least eight hours. A fasting blood sugar of 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes, while 126 mg/dL or higher falls within the diabetes range.
- Oral glucose tolerance test: Measures how your body processes glucose by checking your blood sugar before and two hours after drinking a glucose-containing liquid. A result of 140 to 199 mg/dL indicates prediabetes, while 200 mg/dL or higher falls within the diabetes range.
Knowing you have prediabetes can create an opportunity to take action. The CDC's National Diabetes Prevention Program, has found that lifestyle changes like healthy eating and physical activity can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% (71% for people over 60 years old).
Untreated prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes and lead to serious complications including damage to the blood vessels and nerves, as well as complications that affect the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. Managing diabetes can help prevent or delay more serious complications such as heart attack, blindness, or stroke.
Prenuvo's blood panels include biomarkers that provide information about metabolic health, including blood sugar regulation. These results can provide information about changes in blood sugar and other metabolic markers over time.
Related: How diabetes affects your entire body
8. High blood pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can be easy to miss because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms. When blood pressure reaches very high levels, symptoms may appear as headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds. But in general, measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know whether it’s high.
High blood pressure that goes untreated can damage blood vessels, placing extra strain on the body and increasing the risk of problems affecting the heart, brain and kidneys. Over time, elevated blood pressure can also force the heart to work harder, sometimes causing the walls of its main pumping chamber to thicken. This condition, called left ventricular hypertrophy, can make the heart muscle stiffer and less efficient at pumping blood.
Managing blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medication, when appropriate, can help reduce these risks. Prenuvo's Advanced Heart Health Scan provides additional information about heart muscle function through myocardial strain measurements, although it does not diagnose hypertension or replace routine blood pressure monitoring or standard cardiac testing.
9. High cholesterol
High cholesterol can have a tendency to go unnoticed because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms on its own. Blood biomarkers like those performed in a lipid panel can identify elevated LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and other lipid abnormalities like high triglycerides. This can help healthcare providers assess a person’s cardiovascular risk.
Excess LDL cholesterol is dangerous because it can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries over time. This can narrow them and restrict blood flow. Lowering LDL can make a measurable difference. A 2024 meta-analysis of 60 randomized controlled trials found that for every 39 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter of blood) reduction in LDL cholesterol, the risk of major vascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, was about 22% lower.
Prenuvo’s blood panels include lipid measurements that can help you to gain insight into cardiovascular risk, while its Advanced Heart Health Scan provides additional information about heart muscle function, including measurements that may be tracked over time. The scan does not measure cholesterol or assess plaque buildup or blockages in the coronary arteries.
Related: What happens when you combine whole body MRI and blood work?
Earlier information doesn't always mean earlier treatment
Identifying an abnormality doesn’t always mean that it requires immediate treatment. Some findings may never cause health problems, and some conditions, like certain cancers, can grow so slowly that monitoring may be a more appropriate first response. This is one reason healthcare providers consider the full picture when deciding what comes next, including the possibility of overdiagnosis in some screening settings.
Prenuvo’s Whole Body Scan provides structural information about organs and tissues throughout the body and may help identify an abnormality that warrants further evaluation. While it’s not a replacement for guideline-recommended screenings, like mammograms and colonoscopies, it can be one part of a proactive approach to your health, alongside those screenings and routine medical care.
To learn more about a Prenuvo Membership or standalone services, book a call with our Patient Services Team.
