Lauren Bannon, 40, began experiencing unexplained weight loss and persistent stomach pain. Multiple doctors dismissed her concerns as rheumatoid arthritis or acid reflux. She was prescribed medication, but her condition worsened.
“I felt abandoned by the medical profession,” Bannon said. “It was like I was just in and out of the door, without real answers.”
Frustrated, Bannon turned to ChatGPT, a tool she already used for work in marketing.
She typed in her symptoms and asked what else could mimic arthritis. ChatGPT suggested Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune thyroid disorder, and told her to request a test for thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies.
Her doctor was skeptical, no family history, no fatigue, no classic signs. But Bannon insisted: “Just humour me,” she told them.
The outcome
Tests came back abnormal. Further scans revealed two small malignant tumors in her neck. “I know for sure the cancer would’ve spread without ChatGPT,” she said. “It 100% saved my life.”
Bannon had no textbook symptoms and normal results in routine checkups. If she had accepted the initial diagnosis and stayed on arthritis meds, the cancer might’ve gone undetected for much longer.
Lauren Bannon, 40, took to social media to share that Chat GPT helped save her life (Image: Kennedy News and Media)
AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly used to support medical decisions
- Already applied in spotting breast cancer, skin cancer, and diabetic eye disease.
- Patients use them to understand symptoms, suggest tests, and prepare for appointments.
- Bannon’s story is one of growing patient empowerment, using AI to be heard when the system fails.
AI isn’t a replacement for doctors. But it can flag rare issues, fill diagnostic gaps, and help patients push for better care.
Bannon’s advice
“I’d encourage others to use ChatGPT with caution. But it gives you something to bring to your doctor. It can’t hurt; and it might just save your life.”
ChatGPT didn’t diagnose cancer. But it asked the right question. And that changed everything.
