A Shocking Discovery
“You have a rare tumor. We caught it early.”
The words hung in the air as Nancy Daley gripped the phone a little tighter. As a seasoned Nurse Practitioner, she had delivered her share of difficult news—but now, she was on the receiving end. She felt fine. No symptoms. The full-body MRI she’d gotten at simonONE was more about setting an example for her patients than uncovering any real concern. But in an instant, that scan flipped her from caregiver to patient, from advisor to survivor.
Why Nancy Chose a Preventative Scan
Nancy had always understood the power of knowledge. In her role at simonONE, she regularly consulted with patients about the benefits of whole-body preventative MRI scans. She saw how early findings—even incidental ones—could offer peace of mind or a critical advantage in catching something before it turned dangerous. But she never expected to become living proof.
Early in her career, Nancy spent nine years in the fire department, witnessing how quickly health emergencies could unfold. “A lot of people in the fire department had been getting cancer and finding out later than they would have liked to,” she recalls. That experience helped shape her belief in proactive care. It’s also what prompted her to get the MRI.
Experiencing the Scan Herself
Her visit to SimonMed in Tampa, Florida, felt routine. She was slightly nervous—MRIs aren’t anyone’s idea of fun—but the experience surprised her. From the warm blanket and socks to the clear guidance from the technician, the scan was smoother and faster than she expected. “I actually think I dozed off at one point,” she says with a laugh.
Like many patients, Nancy initially had concerns about claustrophobia. But simonONE’s whole-body MRI typically uses a wide- or open-bore design that’s more spacious and comfortable than traditional machines. “I’m not claustrophobic, but even if I were, I think I would’ve been okay,” she says. “The technician explained everything beforehand and talked me through the process. I knew when to expect noise, when to hold still, and how long each section would take. It really helped me relax.”
Then came the call. A concerning finding. A rare tumor called an appendiceal mucocele.
The Diagnosis She Never Expected
Nancy was stunned. She had no medical history to speak of, rarely saw a doctor, and felt completely healthy. But the scan had uncovered a silent threat. It also revealed a small aneurysm in her brain’s circle of Willis—another surprise, but one she could now monitor.
The value of knowing, she says, can’t be overstated. “Who expects something wrong with their appendix at 55 years old?” she says. “That’s something that happens to children.” And yet, this finding may have saved her life.
Appendiceal mucocele tumors are incredibly rare, occurring in only about six people per million. Because of their location in the colon, they’re difficult to detect through routine procedures like colonoscopies. Most are discovered only after they begin causing pain—usually a sign that the tumor has ruptured or is dangerously close. By then, treatment is often more complicated, involving emergency surgery and a risk of metastasis.
In contrast, early detection—before rupture—allows for surgical removal while the tumor is still contained. In many cases, this can be curative.
The tumor Nancy’s scan discovered had already begun to tunnel through to her large intestine, requiring surgery to remove a portion of her colon. Tissue testing after the procedure confirmed that malignant cells were present within the tumor. Her surgeon later informed her that the tumor was dangerously close to rupturing—and had it done so, it’s likely she wouldn’t have survived. When these tumors rupture, mucous and cancerous cells spill into the abdominal cavity, making the condition far more complicated and life-threatening to treat. Thanks to early detection, Nancy avoided this catastrophic outcome.
The Luxury of Time and Choice
simonONE’s scan, Nancy was able to make informed decisions and avoid a crisis. “I knew I had an issue, and I could choose my physicians,” she says. “There wasn’t an acute situation, so I could get second or third opinions.”
She’s now continuing her care journey, including follow-up MRIs. The hospital system quoted her $7,200 for one scan. At simonONE, the cost is a fraction of that—plus, the results come faster thanks to advanced magnet technology.
“This Scan Saved My Life.”
Nancy’s message is clear: an MRI doesn’t create problems—it finds them early, before they become emergencies.
“Had I waited, I would’ve had expensive surgery. Maybe worse. But now? I have control. I have clarity. And I have time.”
