In an eye-opening experience, OpenAI executive Maggie Hott, who has completed two Ironman triathlons and 21 marathons, considers herself “very, very, very fit.” However, two years ago, as a mother of two, she decided to delve deeper into her health.
A friend recommended she get tested at Biograph, a premium clinic focused on longevity and early disease detection, co-founded by anti-aging advocate Dr. Peter Attia, with locations in New York City and San Francisco.
“I thought it would be a good chance to learn about my health,” Hott, 38, reflected on her visit to Biograph in 2024. “I honestly didn’t expect to find anything. I figured it wouldn’t be me.”
The testing, costing $7,500 and lasting around six hours, included various assessments: a DEXA bone scan, cognitive and flexibility tests, blood work, a VO2 max assessment, and an MRI scan that would change everything.
A few days later, she received unsettling news from the clinic. “They called to tell me it was urgent,” she recounted. “They found a suspicious tumor in my pancreas and suggested I get it checked out.”
Taking swift action, Hott, already a patient at the University of California, San Francisco, arranged for an MRI and biopsy that confirmed she had a rare solid pseudopapillary tumor, typically found in young women.
Pancreatic cancer, known for its severe prognosis due to late detection, can be misleading as early symptoms often mimic less serious conditions. Hott hadn’t experienced any symptoms or had any family history prior to her stage 1 diagnosis. Fortunately, this type of tumor boasts a survival rate exceeding 95%, while the overall five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is about 13%.
In May 2024, surgeons at Stanford University removed her 2.5-centimeter tumor along with 25% of her pancreas, leaving her spleen intact. Hott found solace in connecting with a Facebook group dedicated to others with the same rare condition.
“Most people in the group didn’t find their tumors until they were at least 10 centimeters,” she noted. “I’m the only one who still has my spleen.”
Hott considered herself fortunate—her surgery alone sufficed, with no need for chemotherapy or specialized drugs. Initially scheduled for check-ups every six months, she now only visits once a year and has been declared cancer-free. “I do feel some occasional stomach pain, but overall, my recovery has been quite smooth,” she remarked.
She stands by the $7,500 testing, asserting its critical role in her early diagnosis, although her insurance did not cover her visits to Biograph. The clinic also provided nutritional and fitness coaching during her recovery; she’s now taking more vitamins and supplements than ever.
Biograph expanded recently, opening a clinic in New York City’s Financial District. Hott has encouraged numerous friends to undergo testing, with many uncovering various health concerns. “I’ve probably had at least 50 friends do it, and everyone has found something different,” she shared. She mentioned how someone from her team discovered a lump, and her husband found an issue at Stanford that they continue to monitor yearly.
The cost of Biograph’s services may be steep, with the core membership priced at $7,500 for over 20 assessments. The more advanced Black Tier membership, at $15,000, includes additional analytics like continuous blood sugar monitoring and at-home sleep testing.
Despite concerns surrounding the rise of longevity clinics, Hott champions the importance of knowledge. “I have two young girls, ages four and six, and it’s frightening to think about what could have happened if I hadn’t received this diagnosis,” she acknowledged. “What if I wasn’t there for them five years down the line? Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest.”
