In London, heart disease and cancer are public health priorities. Heart and circulatory diseases cause around 170,000 deaths in the UK every year – around one in four deaths, according to the British Heart Foundation.
Many Londoners qualify for NHS screening, but others fall outside the typical criteria or fear that normal tests are reassuring when an illness is already present.
Across the Atlantic, a preventive imaging group in Florida has been studying similar gaps on a large scale. Since 2020, Life Imaging has performed over 100,000 preventative scans and captured more than 2,600 life-affecting cardiac findings in early detection – often in people who felt healthy. Her experience highlights patterns that are just as important in London as they are in Miami or Orlando.
“The disease doesn’t care about geography,” says founder Tom Graham. “Whether you’re in Miami or Manchester, the biology is the same. It evolves quietly and often silently.”
Why early detection is important internationally
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, causing nearly 700,000 deaths each year – about one in five deaths in the United States. Other serious causes of death such as cancer also claim hundreds of thousands of lives every year.
In the UK, cancer patterns are similar. A groundbreaking study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in JAMA Oncology found that about 8 in 10 cancer deaths avoided over a 45-year period were due to prevention and screening, not treatment alone. “Everyone assumes that treatment saves the most lives,” says Graham. “The data says early action does.”
The lesson resonates in London, where national campaigns are increasingly encouraging earlier investigation and awareness.
Personal loss was the spark
Graham founded Life Imaging after losing both parents to cancer. He wanted to change the way risk is understood.
“When you watch two people go through late-stage disease, you ask different questions,” he says. “Why wasn’t it caught sooner?”
The company’s focus was coronary artery calcium scans (CAC) and whole-body screenings: tools to detect disease before symptoms appear.
Growth followed demand rather than marketing. There are currently centers in Deerfield Beach, Orlando, Jupiter and Miami, with plans for Jacksonville.
“We weren’t looking to expand,” says Graham. “People demanded clarity.”
When symptoms hide a serious illness
One of the most striking findings from large-scale screening is how often disease is present without symptoms.
This problem doesn’t just affect the USA. In the UK, high-profile cases have shown how misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can have tragic consequences. For example, a 42-year-old woman from Cardiff was initially diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), only to later discover she had a rare gynecological cancer – and ultimately died after the disease spread. Her experience sparked a campaign aimed at improving awareness and referral practices after months of incorrect initial diagnosis.
Such stories reflect the broader challenges of early detection of serious illnesses—particularly when symptoms overlap with common illnesses.
Research suggests up to 1 in 18 NHS patients in primary and secondary care may be misdiagnosed, with serious conditions such as cancer and heart attacks among the most critical cases.
“Stories like this show how easily diseases can be missed when we only look for symptoms,” says Graham. “That’s what drives people to look for additional information.”
What cholesterol and “normal laboratory values” do not show
Many patients assume that routine tests such as cholesterol or blood tests are enough to assess heart health. However, research shows that up to half of people who suffer a heart attack have normal or only slightly elevated cholesterol levels at the time of the event.
CAC scans tell a different story. Large studies show:
- A CAC score of 0 often indicates a very low five-year risk of a heart attack
- A CAC score above 100 increases heart risk by 7 to 10 times compared to a score of zero
“Cholesterol estimates risk,” says Graham. “CAC shows what is already happening.”
This insight may be particularly valuable for people whose standard laboratory tests appear reassuring but who have other risk factors such as family history.
The gap between feeling healthy and being healthy
Across Life Imaging’s more than 100,000 screenings, a consistent theme has emerged: Many people who are well and have normal routine blood tests still show early signs of disease.
The CDC notes that many serious illnesses can progress unnoticed for years before symptoms appear. The NIH recognizes that atherosclerosis often develops decades before a cardiac event.
“People assume that when they’re doing well, they’re doing well,” Graham says. “Biology doesn’t always work that way.”
The discrepancy between subjective well-being and underlying biology is precisely why screening is so important.
The value of time in medicine
Time itself is one of the most influential variables in health outcomes. Early detection often allows:
- More treatment options
- Less invasive procedure
- Improved survival rates
- Reduced long-term health burden
The CDC emphasizes that early detection improves the chances of survival and reduces mortality from serious illnesses. Being proactive doesn’t mean panicking – it means taking action while there are still plenty of opportunities.
“Uncertainty breeds fear,” says Graham. “Information creates control.”
Prevention as a partnership, not as panic
One misconception about imaging is that it creates fear. However, there is evidence that objective risk information can promote positive health behaviors, including greater collaboration with physicians and adherence to lifestyle changes.
Life Imaging now conducts quarterly reviews of publicly available guidelines to ensure its teaching materials and protocols reflect the latest evidence. They also review patient communications for clarity.
“We’re not replacing basic care,” says Graham. “We increase visibility.”
Public feedback also plays a role in understanding prevention. Life imaging reviews published on independent platforms often mention clarity, safety and early findings discovered in people who felt completely healthy. Instead of focusing on the anxiety, many reviews describe relief – knowing where you stand and having concrete information to discuss with your doctors. “The most common word we see in life imaging reviews is ‘clarity,'” says Graham. “People don’t want panic. They want facts.”
Lessons worth sharing
The London health system is already a leader in many prevention programs. But the biology of silent diseases—the formation of cardiac plaques, the growth of tumors—knows no boundaries.
The disease often begins long before symptoms appear. Waiting for symptoms delays the chance. Early detection continually improves options.
“Early detection does not promise certainty,” says Graham. “It gives you time. And in healthcare, time changes everything.”
