Holly Willoughby undergoes MRI scan for peace of mind to check for early signs of cancer

Holly Willoughby revealed she has undergone an MRI scan to check for early signs of cancer in a health update on Monday. The presenter, 44, said she was hoping for some 'peace of mind' as she discussed her experience on Instagram. In the update, Willoughby perched on the end of the machine wearing a set of black pyjamas before undergoing the scan.

She explained in the caption: 'Recently @ezrainc very kindly invited me for a multi-organ MRI scan, checking for early signs of cancer and 500+ other conditions. As we all know, early detection saves lives, and it’s incredible this is now available in London. Having that peace of mind for me and my family is so worth it. As a company their hope is the more who do this the more available it is for everyone.' Ezra's screening service has launched in the UK, expanding beyond the US.

Ezra's AI-powered scans last about an hour and cover 13 organs, with an optional extra lung CT scan and heart disease screening. The 13-organ full body scan costs £2,395, while the 'plus' option to include the lungs and heart is £300 more. The company says early detection is the best defense against cancer because treatment can begin sooner and prognosis improves dramatically. With advances in AI, scan times have been cut significantly, and the system provides a scoring mechanism to help doctors prioritise findings. The times could shrink to as little as 15 minutes and the cost could fall below £400 in the future.

The London launch comes as a growing number of health startups offer full-body MRIs that promise to detect cancer and other chronic diseases years before symptoms appear. Prominent figures such as Kim Kardashian and Cindy Crawford have publicly discussed undergoing full-body checks. However, experts caution that routine scans are not necessary or cost-effective for the average healthy patient with no symptoms. Most experts only recommend routine full-body scans for high-risk groups, such as those with a heightened genetic risk of cancer. Prenuvo, the company behind the UK expansion, has promoted its full-body scan as capable of detecting cancer and diseases such as aneurysms in their earliest stages, describing it as a proactive health tool. Dr Daniel Durand, a radiologist and Prenuvo's chief medical officer, has told AP: 'We’re trying to give people the opportunity to be more proactive about their health.' Still, medical experts warn the technology remains imperfect for general use and should be approached with caution.