For most men in this age group without symptoms or significant risk factors, routine screening isn't something you'll need right now. But that doesn't mean your health isn't worth paying attention to. If you have a personal or family history of certain conditions, or something doesn't feel right, it's always worth having a conversation with your GP or specialist.
This page outlines the imaging options that may be relevant for some men in this age group - not as a checklist, but as a starting point for that conversation.
Please note: These are imaging-based pathways available within our private radiology setting. They are in addition to, and do not replace other screening programmes offered through Health New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
For men who have had testicular cancer, follow-up care is an important part of your long-term health - and ultrasound surveillance will likely be a key part of that, based on your specialist's protocol.
A testicular ultrasound is safe, painless, and well-suited to repeat monitoring over time. It can help detect any changes early - often before you'd notice anything yourself - and provides the kind of ongoing reassurance that makes a real difference when you're navigating life after cancer treatment.
If anything new is found, having it picked up early means your care team can act quickly and with the most options available to them. If you've had testicular cancer and are unsure whether ultrasound surveillance is part of your follow-up plan, it's worth raising with your GP or specialist - they can advise what's right for your situation and refer you to ARG Te Tai Tokerau if imaging is appropriate.
Routine abdominal or bowel imaging isn't recommended for men in this age group without symptoms or known risk factors. But that changes if something doesn't feel right.
Things worth mentioning to your GP or specialist include persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in your stool, ongoing abdominal discomfort, unexplained weight loss, or unusual tiredness. These don't necessarily mean something serious -but they're always worth getting checked, and catching anything early makes a genuine difference to outcomes.
If you do have symptoms or a known risk factor such as a strong family history of bowel cancer, CT Colonography is a safe, effective, and comfortable way to assess the bowel. It's less invasive than a traditional colonoscopy, requires no sedation, and you can get on with your day straight afterwards. It can help find changes early - often before symptoms progress - when treatment tends to be most straightforward.
If any of this feels relevant to you, a conversation with your GP or specialist is the right first step. If imaging is appropriate, they can refer you to ARG Te Tai Tokerau and we'll take care of the rest.
CT Colonography is a fast, accurate, and less invasive alternative to colonoscopy. See the comparison below for more information.
You may have heard that WB-MR is able to ‘check for everything’ and find disease early. While it can be used for screening or early detection in some situations it is not a complete test for all diseases, and it's important to understand its limitations.
Currently there is no evidence to demonstrate significant improvement to your health outcomes using whole‑body MRI as a screening tool. It can also identify incidental or low‑risk findings that may lead to unnecessary anxiety and follow‑up tests. In addition to this, not all diseases are detectable on whole‑body MRI - particularly in the early stages - which can offer you false reassurance.
Whole-body MRI may be appropriate:
- As part of specialist-led care or surveillance
- In high-risk genetic conditions such as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (inherited TP53 loss)
- For specific medical reasons, such as inflammatory or systemic disease
We recommend screening that is targeted, and evidence based, matched to your own risk profile, and using imaging that’s known to improve outcomes (such as bowel, lung and the other screening options defined above).
If you believe a whole-body MRI may be appropriate for you, please discuss the potential benefits, limitations, and suitability of the test with your doctor and arrange a referral to book your appointment with us.