AI Assistant Helps Woman Detect Cancer That Doctors Missed

A North Carolina mother credits an artificial intelligence tool for saving her life after it identified a condition that healthcare professionals overlooked.

Lauren Bannon, a 40-year-old marketing company owner, resides part-time in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She first noticed troubling symptoms in February 2024, reporting issues with bending her fingers during mornings and evenings, as per Kennedy News and Media.

After enduring these symptoms for four months, Bannon was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, despite negative test results for the illness.

In the same period, she began experiencing severe stomach pains and lost 14 pounds within a month. Doctors attributed these symptoms to acid reflux.

Desperate for answers, Bannon turned to ChatGPT, a widely discussed AI language model created by OpenAI. The chatbot suggested that her symptoms could be indicative of Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation and potential underactivity.

Despite her doctor’s skepticism, Bannon insisted on testing for Hashimoto’s disease in September 2024. To her surprise, the results confirmed the AI’s suggestion, even though she had no family history of the illness.

This diagnosis led her physicians to perform a thyroid ultrasound, resulting in the discovery of two small lumps in her neck. These were later confirmed as cancerous in October 2024.

Bannon firmly believes that she would not have identified the cancer without ChatGPT’s intervention. She expressed feelings of disappointment in the medical community, stating, “I felt let down by doctors. It was almost like they were just trying to give out medication for anything to get you in and out the door.”

She recounted her struggle to receive accurate answers, sharing, “I needed to find out what was happening to me, I just felt so desperate. I just wasn’t getting the answers I needed.”

Prior to the cancer diagnosis in January 2025, Bannon frequently utilized ChatGPT for professional tasks. When she prompted the AI about potential medical conditions that mimic rheumatoid arthritis, it recommended checking thyroid peroxidase antibody levels for Hashimoto’s disease.

Following her cancer diagnosis, she underwent surgery to remove her thyroid and two lymph nodes from her neck. Currently, she requires lifelong monitoring for any signs of cancer recurrence, according to reports.

Notably, Bannon’s symptoms did not align with typical Hashimoto’s disease presentations, leading her to believe that her condition and subsequent cancer diagnosis might have gone undetected without ChatGPT’s insights.

She remarked, “I didn’t have the typical symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease — I wasn’t tired or feeling exhausted.” Bannon acknowledged that if she had followed her initial diagnosis, the cancer could have spread unnoticed throughout her body.

Reflecting on her experience, she stated, “It saved my life. I would’ve never discovered this without ChatGPT. All my tests were perfect.”

Bannon encourages others facing health concerns to consider using AI tools like ChatGPT to seek information, but she also emphasizes the importance of thorough investigation with medical professionals. She suggested, “If it gives you something to look into, ask your doctors to test you. It can’t do any harm. I feel lucky to be alive.”

Dr. Harvey Castro, an emergency medicine physician with extensive experience in healthcare technology, acknowledges the growing role of AI in healthcare. He sees value in tools such as ChatGPT that can raise awareness and motivate timely action, yet he stresses the importance of caution.

He stated, “AI is not a replacement for human medical expertise. These tools can assist, alert, and even comfort — but they can’t diagnose, examine or treat.”

Castro added, “When used responsibly, AI can enhance healthcare outcomes — but when used in isolation, it can be dangerous. We must prioritize patient safety and keep licensed medical professionals at the center of care.”

Fox News Digital sought comments from OpenAI regarding ChatGPT’s role in personal healthcare management.

This instance illustrates the potential of AI technology in the medical field, opening discussions about its supportive role in patient diagnosis and care. While the integration of AI offers promising advantages, experts urge users to remain vigilant and engage with qualified healthcare providers to ensure accurate assessments and safe practices.