My MRI found a kidney tumor. Here’s what I’m doing next.
Would you pay $2,500 to know what’s really going on inside your body?
Ten years ago, if you’d told me I’d voluntarily climb into a loud metal tube for an informational MRI I’d have laughed in your face. And yet, here we are.
I’ve done two full-body MRIs, most recently with Prenuvo. Not only did I survive (I watched Sex and the City reruns the whole time and can confirm: Samantha Jones is still iconic), I found out about a benign kidney tumor.
I’m all about proactive findings like this. The reactive model of medicine, which has us waiting in the dark until something goes wrong, is just as crazy to me as bloodletting with leaches.
Let’s break down what full-body MRIs do, what they don’t, and whether they’re worth it.
🤓 What to know: Full-body MRI used to be fringe. Not anymore.
Most of us (including me) once saw whole-body scans as high-cost, low-yield. Newer models like Prenuvo and Ezra are changing the game:
- 🧲 No radiation (MRI = magnets, not X-rays)
- ⏱ ~45 min scan
- 👩⚕️ Radiologist-reviewed, diagnostic quality
- 🧾 Categorized findings: benign → urgent
- 💰~$2,500 (not insurance-covered, but HSA/FSA eligible)
These scans won’t give you all the answers—but they will give you more informed questions.
I got the scan because last year’s MRI found a thyroid nodule I was eager to check up on and because I want to continue building a baseline for future tracking.
What the actual scan is like
Prenuvo’s setup was significantly better than Ezra’s (which I used last year), designed to feel calm and streamlined:
- Private changing area
- Soft loungewear
- Wide, open MRI machine (not at all coffin-like)
- And yes, there was Netflix. I watched Sex and the City, Season 1; honestly you could have left me in there for another hour.
What my scan found
✅ Informational (no action needed right now)
- Breast tissue: >50% dense glandular. Dense breast tissue is very common and means mammograms are less sensitive—if this is you, talk to your provider about adding ultrasound or MRI.
- Uterus: Normal 9mm endometrial lining. No action needed, but helpful to know for the future.
⚠️ Actionable (I’m monitoring over time)
- Kidney tumor: A benign angiomyolipoma. Small and symptom-free, but these can affect kidney function if they grow. I’ll be monitoring.
- Thyroid nodule: Still too small to biopsy (<1.5 cm) and hasn’t changed since my last MRI. With thyroid issues affecting up to 1 in 5 women, I also track my thyroid labs annually with Parsley.
- Baker’s cysts (knees): Linked to joint overuse. Not urgent, but I’m adjusting how I train to protect long-term joint health.
💪 What to do: Consider a full-body MRI every 1-2 years.
These scans aren’t for everyone. I definitely have patients for whom this kind of information is psychologically too much to handle. But for some people, they offer a new layer of insight that many of us are coming to expect.
I think of it as banking body data for your future self.
You might consider a full-body MRI if:
✅ You’re tracking prior findings
✅ You have a family history of cancer or neurodegenerative disease
✅ You want a midlife health baseline
✅ You’re the type who just likes to know stuff
Answers to your most-asked MRI questions
Radiation risk?
None. MRI = magnets, not X-rays.
Is it legit?
Yes. Diagnostic-quality, full-body scan, read by a board-certified radiologist.
What about false positives and “too much info”?
Prenuvo ranks each finding by risk and gives a detailed report showing what’s benign, what to watch, and what needs action. From there, your Parsley doctor or regular doctor helps you verify a diagnosis and manage any unexpected information.
Cost?
$2,500. Not covered by insurance (yet), but HSA/FSA-eligible. Parsley members get a discount.
Do I still need a mammogram?
Yes. This is a “yes and” situation. More data = smarter decisions.
How often should I do this?
Every 1–2 years if you’re prevention-minded or managing known risks.
Can I get a partial scan?
Yes. Some companies offer a torso-only or torso + head version that are cheaper and slightly faster. But personally? If I’m crawling into a giant metal tube, I want the full picture.
Will AI make this better?
Absolutely. Advances in AI will improve how we interpret MRI data, making your body scan even more useful over time.
⚡ Quick hits
🧴 Clean beauty crackdown
The average American woman is exposed to 168 chemicals (including parabens, formaldehyde, and mercury!) from personal care products every day. The newly introduced Safer Beauty Bill Package will (hopefully!) get the U.S. caught up with Europe on cleaner beauty.
Until then, my favorite non-toxic makeup brands are Merit and Ilia.
☕ Black coffee might extend your lifespan
A large new study found coffee drinkers are 17% less likely to die early. But! The coffee has to be black or minimally sweetened to get the benefit.
I am so beholden to my daily double black espresso that I packed my Breville for our family vacation.
🧪 The lab test most women aren’t getting (but should)
Homocysteine. It’s a marker of methylation, cardiovascular risk, and even brain health. I check it in all of my patients at Parsley.
🩸 100+ data points, 2x a year, $495
Parsley’s Comprehensive Diagnostic Panel for women is here! It includes hormones, inflammation, metabolic markers, nutrient status + more.
See everything included here.
💛 The Momgeviy Files
This week I’m writing from the beach—my family’s sacred summer spot. It’s nostalgic, sandy, salty, windy and deeply joyful.
On day one, I found myself driving my kids toward the waves and saying out loud, “I’m so happy.”
From the backseat: “I’m so happy too!”
I thought about this for a moment, remembering my own family trips here when I was a kid. Both of my parents worked a lot (my mom was a lawyer and my dad was a doctor) and the two weeks at the beach were a time when we were all pretty carefree and present. There was no need to solve anything or be anywhere else.
As someone who focuses a lot on all the things I want to fix or improve—whether it’s the sourcing of the food my kids are eating, the way I’m strength training, or how I’m running my business—I often feel like Mr. Fix-It, constantly in optimization mode, eyes ahead to the next challenge.
It’s hard for me to get out of this vibe, especially when my entire work life can come with me to the beach in the palm of my hand. And it’s why trips like this – to places where I feel the most ease and freedom – are so vital.
Seeing my kids’ sunny faces in the review mirror reminded me that in our quest for longevity, being able to identify what makes us happy (and then making room for it) is a skill. It also reminded me that when it comes to kids, if I’m happy they’re usually pretty happy too.
Stay strong, stay curious, and breathe,
Robin