A full-body MRI caught Busy Philipps' rare brain tumour before she had any symptoms, and her latest scan has come back clean. The Cupertino star, 47, told People magazine exclusively at the 30 September premiere in New York City.

'Your scan was clean,' the oncologist told her, according to Philipps, before asking when the CBS legal drama would premiere. Philipps replied it was that night. 'She's been on the whole journey with me,' the Mean Girls actress said.

A Scan Without Symptoms

The diagnosis began with a full-body MRI on 12 February that revealed a lesion on Philipps' brain requiring further testing. She had learned about the scan on social media.

The scan showed a 2.6-centimetre mass on her frontal lobe. A follow-up MRI reviewed by Dr Orrin Devinsky, a neurologist at NYU Langone, led to a diagnosis of grade 2 oligodendroglioma.

Philipps recalled Devinsky telling her that it was a real tumour inside her brain and had to come out. 'I was hyperventilating and trying to breathe,' she said.

Why Early Detection Mattered

Oligodendrogliomas account for about 3% to 4% of all brain tumours, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Grade 2 tumours like Philipps' are considered low-grade, slow-growing and typically respond well to treatment.

Because the tumour was detected before she developed symptoms, it was found early and was fully removed, according to Philipps.

Her surgeon fully removed it, and she needed no chemotherapy or radiation.

Philipps said in August she underwent two surgeries, the first on 2 March. She learned she was cast in the show the same day she learned of the tumour.

Her doctor was confident she would be on set in four weeks. 'And I was,' she said.

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What Full-Body MRIs Can Miss

Prenuvo scans are full-body MRIs that screen for hundreds of conditions without radiation or contrast. According to Prenuvo's website, they can detect solid tumours at stage 1 in many cases.

A systematic review of whole-body MRI protocols notes the technique offers wide anatomical coverage without ionising radiation. Guidelines recommend it for screening people with cancer predisposition syndromes, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

Full-body MRIs carry a risk of overdiagnosis, unnecessary testing and health anxiety. A systematic review found that 95% of people undergoing whole-body MRI had at least one abnormal finding, while 91% of the reported findings were benign.

False positives are another risk, requiring further testing. A full-body Prenuvo scan costs $2,499, and insurers rarely pay for full-body MRIs.

Dr Clifton David Fuller, a radiation oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said a scan that finds nothing 'may give you a false sense of security', and urged anyone considering one to see a trusted doctor. Scans can miss existing issues.

A normal scan today does not mean cancer will not develop later. Recommended screening tests remain the best way to find certain cancers early.

Major medical groups, including the American College of Radiology, do not recommend full-body MRIs for cancer detection in the general public. Such scans are usually reserved for people with specific health needs.

Listening to Your Body

Philipps said her openness has resonated. 'So many people have come up to me in public,' she said, citing the message to 'listen to your body, women'. 'If you get a no from a doctor, continue to seek care for yourself if you just feel something's off.'

'I've been overwhelmed with love and support and it's been very nice,' she said. 'I mean, what? Are people gonna be mean?' she quipped.

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