Jun 1, 2009 7:46 pm US/Eastern
Free Brain Scans Offered In New York City
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Brain tumors are generally not screen for early on in life, but now a New York City foundation with their "Mobile MRI Unit" is aiming to change that. (File)
AP
Most of us have grown accustomed to routinely checking for certain types of cancer through yearly mammograms or colonoscopies. Brain tumors are generally not screen for early on in life, but now a New York City foundation with their "Mobile MRI Unit" is aiming to change that.
When the Brain Tumor Foundation's "Mobile MRI Unit" came to Curtis Walter's town, he decided to check it out.
"I said, 'Well let me go get a brain scan, why not? I've never had one done,'" he said.
It turned out, Walters had a rare condition known as a meningoma, which otherwise would not have been discovered. He and his wife are forever grateful for the scan.
"I think it was very good that they have something like this out there for the public," said Curtis' wife, Carol.
The unit is a part of the Brain Tumor Foundation's "Road To Early Detection" campaign. It travels around New York City and offers free MRI brain scans to virtually anyone. Neurosurgeon Dr. Patrick Kelly spearheaded the campaign and believes catching brain tumors early will save lives.
"We've scanned over 1,300 people and we have found some astounding things," he told CBS 2.
Nearly a million Americans are walking around with a brain tumor and don't even know it. About 25,000 of them are in New York City alone, and by the time brain tumors cause symptoms, often times it's too late for treatment.
The brain scan takes just 10 minutes and gathers dozens of images of the brain from every angle. The results are even sent to your primary care physician to keep on record.
"There's actually no pain whatsoever with the test. It's non-invasive, it doesn't use any radiation, dyes, or injections," said Dan Jusza, a radiologic technologist.
Dr. Kelly hopes to expand the campaign outside of New York.
"I think if it works here now, it ought to work everywhere and it should be everywhere," he said.
And the Walter family couldn't agree more.
"I think everybody should have one, including myself, if I get the nerve," said Carol Walter.
MRI scanning is safe for most people, but should be avoided if you have a pacemaker or metal implants of any kind in your body. For more information about when the mobile MRI unit will be in your area,
click here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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