A Northern Irish mother-of-two credits an artificial intelligence chatbot with saving her life after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Lauren Bannon started to experience symptoms such as joint pain and stomach issues in February 2024. Despite testing negative for rheumatoid arthritis, doctors incorrectly diagnosed her with the condition.
However, Bannon refused to accept this diagnosis and used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to explore possible causes of her symptoms. The chatbot suggested she might have Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid gland. This led Bannon to request further tests, including a thyroid ultrasound, which revealed cancerous lumps in her neck.
Bannon underwent surgery to remove her thyroid and lymph nodes, and is now under life-long monitoring for cancer recurrence. She credits ChatGPT with saving her life, stating that without its guidance, the cancer might have spread undetected.
Bannon has urged others to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT “with caution” before consulting doctors on their symptoms. Her experience highlights the potential benefits and risks of relying on artificial intelligence for medical information.
Source: https://www.ladbible.com/news/health/woman-chat-gpt-cancer-diagnosis-doctors-missed-842246-20250422