Call it a run-in with reality.
OpenAI executive Maggie Hott has crossed the finish lines of two Ironman triathlons and 21 marathons, describing herself as a “very, very, very healthy person.” Two years ago, the mother of two decided to find out exactly how healthy she is.
A good friend suggested she undergo testing at Biograph, a high-end longevity and early disease detection clinic co-founded by anti-aging influencer Dr. Peter Attia. Offices are located in NYC and the San Francisco area.
“I was like, ‘Oh, this will be a good opportunity to learn about my health,’” Hott, 38, told The Post of her 2024 visit. “What I didn’t expect was to actually find something. You never expect that to be you.”
The $7,500 testing — which spanned about six hours — included a DEXA bone density scan, cognitive assessments, flexibility evaluations, blood work, a VO2 max test and a fateful MRI.
A few days later, Hott got a shocking call from Biograph.
Charting a new course
The news from the San Mateo clinic stopped Hott in her tracks.
“They’re like, ‘Hey, we just want to let you know this is probably pretty urgent,’” she recalled.
“‘We found a suspicious tumor on your pancreas, and we think you should get it looked at.’”
She immediately focused on her health. She was already a patient at UC San Francisco, so she made an appointment for an MRI and biopsy that confirmed she had a solid pseudopapillary neoplasm, a rare tumor that tends to emerge in the body or tail of the pancreas of young women.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest diseases because it’s often discovered late and spreads rapidly. There is no routine screening, and early symptoms — if there are any — can easily be mistaken for less serious ailments.
Hott had no symptoms and no family history before she was diagnosed with Stage 1 pancreatic cancer. This particular tumor has a good survival rate — exceeding 95% — while the overall five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer across all stages is roughly 13%.
Turning a corner to recovery
In May 2024, Stanford physicians removed Hott’s 2.5-centimeter tumor along with 25% of her pancreas. Her spleen, which filters her blood and touches her pancreas, was spared.
Because her tumor is so rare, and information is scarce, she joined a Facebook group of 500 fellow patients with solid pseudopapillary neoplasm.
“Almost everybody in that Facebook group didn’t find these tumors until they were 10-plus centimeters,” Hott said. “I am the only person in this Facebook group [who] still has their spleen.”
Hott was lucky — she didn’t need chemotherapy or special medicine, really nothing beyond the surgery.
She initially visited Stanford every six months for checkups, but now she only has to go once a year.
Her lymph nodes are clear, and she was declared cancer-free.
“I sometimes still feel some pain in my stomach, but other than that, my recovery has been pretty easy,” Hott said.
Getting back on track
She credits Biograph for the early detection and said it was worth $7,500 for the comprehensive testing. Insurance covered her cancer treatment but not her Biograph visit.
Biograph also supported her cancer journey with nutritional and physical fitness coaching. Now she’s taking vitamins and supplements like never before.
Hott plans to return this summer for more diagnostics as she hypes the service to others.
“I’ve probably gotten at least 50 friends to do it at this point. Different people have found different things,” she said.
“Someone on my team found a lump in her breast,” she continued. “My husband found something small that we are continuously monitoring … at Stanford every single year. So, yes, I’ve recommended this to just about everyone.”
Hott’s advice doesn’t come cheap. There are two types of Biograph memberships — the core tier costs $7,500 and includes over 20 assessments.
The black tier, $15,000 for the first year, offers the same evaluations plus continuous glucose monitoring, at-home sleep testing and an AI-powered dementia assessment, among other analyses.
Biograph opened its San Mateo flagship location in 2020 and its NYC clinic in the Financial District last year.
The company declined to disclose its membership numbers. A Biograph rep said the service has saved the lives of roughly 1 in 6 members by providing early detection.
While the rise of longevity clinics has sparked debate about unnecessary health anxiety, Hott believes knowledge is power.
“I’ve got two little girls. I’ve got a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old, and it’s scary to think about if I wouldn’t have found this diagnosis,” she said.
“What would have happened in five years? Would they not have a mom? This is one of the deadliest forms of cancer that there is.”
