Considering my family history (moreso by Dad's side), this is something I should consider getting done.

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Sarah Blackburn's decision to undergo a full-body MRI scan led to the revelation of a dangerous splenic artery aneurysm that had gone undetected for years

After a thorough consultation, Blackburn decided to get surgery to remove her spleen — a procedure her doctors highly encouraged

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In a world where health often takes a backseat to the demands of daily life, Sarah Blackburn emphasizes the importance of getting checked out — even when you don't have any symptoms

Driven by a family history of cancer and the newfound accessibility of full-body MRI scans, Blackburn details in a now-viral TikTok her decision to take a big leap concerning her own health by getting a Prenuvo scan.

According to the Prenuvo website, the scan “captures millions of data points from head-to-ankle, including major organs, brain, and spine.”

Blackburn’s decision to undergo a full-body MRI with the support of her husband was initially met with some hesitation. “We just kept thinking, ‘Oh, I don’t know if we want to know,’ ” Blackburn exclusively tells PEOPLE. Like many, she struggled with the uncertainty of what the scan might reveal.

But the potential to detect and address health issues early on ultimately outweighed her fears. Her family’s extensive history with health problems served as a reminder of the importance of early detection and intervention, too. “I thought this would be a huge difference that could make or break the situation. I can get ahead of this," she says.

Although Blackburn expected a clear scan due to her healthy lifestyle and a lack of symptoms plaguing her, the results took her by surprise. The scan revealed she had a splenic artery aneurysm, a rare condition particularly dangerous for women who've had multiple pregnancies.

Despite the initial shock, Blackburn found strength in the support of her family and friends. She sought guidance from multiple vascular surgeons, who all recommended the removal of her spleen due to the location and the size of the aneurysms.

“They all came to the same spot where they were like, yeah, it's gotta go,” Blackburn shares.

It was one of her doctors who finally pushed her to follow through with the operation. They told Blackburn, “If this was one of my loved ones, I would tell them this is the route to take.” She also joined multiple Facebook groups that helped her in her decision.

Blackburn’s story doesn’t end with her surgery. Inspired by her experience, she decided to share her journey on TikTok, hoping to raise awareness about splenic artery aneurysm and the importance of full-body scans.

She tells PEOPLE, “I wanted to help somebody, and I wanted to tell my story. Even if it was just one person, I thought it was going to be just one person. I hope it’s one person. I hope somebody will come tell me, ‘Hey, I found out about this because of you, and now I get to live a long and healthy life,’ ” Blackburn continues.

One of the most alarming aspects of Blackburn’s story is when she had an ultrasound done in 2020 that notated a lesion on her spleen, it was never relayed to her. It wasn’t until after the scan that she discovered this information in her medical records.