A mother of two credits ChatGPT for saving her life, claiming the artificial intelligence chatbot flagged the condition leading to her cancer when doctors missed it.

Lauren Bannon, who divides her time between North Carolina and the U.S. Virgin Islands, first noticed in February 2024 that she was having trouble bending her fingers in the morning and evening, as reported by Kennedy News and Media.

After four months, the 40-year-old was told by doctors that she had rheumatoid arthritis, despite testing negative for the condition.

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Bannon, who owns a marketing company, then began experiencing excruciating stomach pains and lost 14 pounds in just a month, which doctors blamed on acid reflux.

Desperate to pinpoint the cause of her symptoms, Bannon turned to ChatGPT, the large-language model made by OpenAI.

The chatbot told Bannon that she may have Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to become inflamed and eventually underactive, according to Kennedy News and Media.

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Despite reservations from her doctor, Bannon insisted on being tested for the condition in September 2024 — and was shocked to discover that ChatGPT was correct, despite the absence of any family history.

This prompted doctors to perform an ultrasound of Lauren’s thyroid, when they discovered two small lumps in her neck that were confirmed as cancer in October 2024.

“I needed to find out what was happening to me, I just felt so desperate. I just wasn’t getting the answers I needed.”

Bannon claims she would never have found the hidden cancer without the help of ChatGPT, which she credits for helping to save her life.

“I felt let down by doctors,” said Bannon, as reported by Kennedy News and Media. “It was almost like they were just trying to give out medication for anything to get you in and out the door.”

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“I needed to find out what was happening to me, I just felt so desperate. I just wasn’t getting the answers I needed.”

Bannon said she had been using ChatGPT for work. When she asked the chatbot about which medical conditions mimic rheumatoid arthritis, it answered, ‘You may have Hashimoto’s disease, ask your doctor to check your thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO) levels.’”

The chatbot told Bannon that she may have Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. (Kennedy News and Media)

After her cancer diagnosis in January 2025, Bannon underwent an operation to remove her thyroid and two lymph nodes from her neck. She will now remain under lifelong monitoring to ensure that the cancer doesn’t return, according to the report.

Due to not presenting with typical symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease, Bannon believes her condition, and subsequent cancer diagnosis, would have remained undetected without the help of ChatGPT.

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“I didn’t have the typical symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease — I wasn’t tired or feeling exhausted,” she said, per Kennedy News and Media.

“If I hadn’t looked on ChatGPT, I would’ve just taken the rheumatoid arthritis medication and the cancer would’ve spread from my neck to everywhere else.”

Doctors performed an ultrasound of Lauren’s thyroid, when they discovered two small lumps in her neck that were confirmed as cancer. (Kennedy News and Media)

“It saved my life. I would’ve never discovered this without ChatGPT. All my tests were perfect.”

Bannon encourages others to use the chatbot to investigate their own health concerns, but to “act with caution.”

“If it gives you something to look into, ask your doctors to test you,” she suggested. “It can’t do any harm. I feel lucky to be alive.”

ChatGPT is a large-language model made by OpenAI. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Dr. Harvey Castro, a board-certified emergency medicine physician and national speaker on artificial intelligence based in Dallas, Texas, said he welcomes the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in raising awareness and prompting faster action, but also urges caution.

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

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

Fox News Digital reached out to OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, for comment.

One U.S. governor is telling Americans to take a hike – literally.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is encouraging residents to get outside and walk at least one mile per day.

The state plans to designate official “Mountaineer Mile trails” in its 32 state parks that have hiking trails.

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The MAHA-supporting governor spoke with Fox News Digital on Tuesday while at HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s announcement of impending food dye bans.

“We’re getting a lot of traction with our Mountaineer Mile, and everyone knows the importance of getting out and working and walking. That’s really starting to gain a lot of strength in West Virginia,” said Morrisey.

Getting Americans healthy again will require a multipronged approach to reducing rates of obesity, diabetes, stroke and congestive heart failure, according to the governor.

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“You’re taking the crap out of the food, you’re incentivizing people to eat good food … making sure people are working and have purposeful lives, and then we’re also encouraging people to go out and exercise.”

Hiking can help build stronger muscles and bones, improve balance, boost heart health and decrease the risk of respiratory problems, according to the National Park Service. (iStock)

Health benefits of hiking

Hiking can help build stronger muscles and bones, improve balance, boost heart health and decrease the risk of respiratory problems, according to the National Park Service.

“150 minutes of walking a week has been shown to extend your lifespan by up to seven years.”

Celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels has touted the benefits of walking, previously telling Fox News Digital that she encourages Americans to have a daily step goal.

“150 minutes of walking a week has been shown to extend your lifespan by up to seven years,” she said at the time. “Something simple like that goes such a long way.”

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Starting with a simple goal of 5,000 steps a day and using a walking pad is a great way to begin, according to Michaels.

West Virginia has been a leader in pushing for MAHA initiatives. The state’s governor has called for a multipronged approach to reducing rates of obesity, diabetes, stroke and congestive heart failure. (iStock)

Hiking in nature has also been shown to reduce anxiety and depression.

Stanford researchers have found that people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural outdoor setting showed decreased activity in a region of the brain linked to depression.

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“These results suggest that accessible natural areas may be vital for mental health in our rapidly urbanizing world,” said co-author Gretchen Daily, the Bing Professor in Environmental Science and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, in a study report. 

“Our findings can help inform the growing movement worldwide to make cities more livable, and to make nature more accessible to all who live in them.”

Health researchers are sounding the alarm about an endocrine disruptor commonly found in paper receipts – and they say it doesn’t take long for your hands to absorb the chemical.

In an Apr. 14 statement, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) announced a notice of violation for 32 retailers that allegedly had high levels of Bisphenol S (BPS) in their receipts. 

In the official notice of violation on April 11, the companies named dozens of national corporations.

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The organization described Bisphenol S (BPS) as the “lesser-known but harmful chemical cousin to BPA in receipt paper,” and described the organic compound as “hormone-disrupting.”

“BPS, like [Bisphenol A] … mimics estrogen and can disrupt the normal functioning of the body, including metabolism, growth and development, and reproduction,” the statement said. 

“Studies show that BPS can be absorbed through skin when handling receipt paper – even for short periods.”

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The statement claimed that holding a BPS-laced receipt for just 10 seconds could have serious health consequences.

“Based on these studies and testing by an independent lab, the concentrations were so high that touching only one receipt with BPS for 10 seconds resulted in exposure above the safe harbor level, which requires a clear and reasonable warning to consumers,” CEH Science Lead Mihir Vohra said in the press release.

Holding a BPS-laced receipt for a mere 10 seconds can have adverse side effects due to its estrogen-mimicking properties, researchers say. (iStock)

CEH stated that a lawsuit will be filed against the alleged violators unless they agree to “provide clear and reasonable warnings” to consumers or “reformulate such products to eliminate the BPS exposures.”

The retailers will also have to pay an “appropriate civil penalty.”

The organization advised consumers to decline paper receipts whenever possible. 

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“Store workers who must handle receipts should wear gloves if possible or avoid using alcohol-based hand cleaners before handling a receipt, because it can significantly increase the absorption of BPS,” said CEH Senior Director Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon in the release.

“Receipts are made from thermal paper, which shouldn’t be recycled because they contain bisphenols like BPA and BPS, which can contaminate the recycling stream and pose health and environmental risks.”

A senior director at the CEH recommends that retail employees wear gloves to protect themselves from BPS when handling receipts. (iStock)

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that digital receipts are more prevalent than ever. 

“We are definitely moving in the direction of digital receipts anyway,” the medical expert told Fox News Digital.

Siegel also noted that many Americans are exposed to Bisphenol A (BPA) without noticing it – for example, it can commonly be found on smartphone cases, despite not being found on iPhones.

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More research needs to be done on the impact of “forever chemicals” like BPS, the doctor suggested.

“Forever chemicals are everywhere and there is a concern about fertility,” one doctor said. (iStock)

“Forever chemicals are everywhere and there is a concern about fertility,” Siegel cautioned. 

“We need to do a better job of documenting and limiting exposure.”

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BPS has been scrutinized in recent years over its potential to adversely impact people’s health.

In 2021, German researchers found that the chemical compound could “seriously damage” human brains after studying its effects on the nerve cells of goldfish.

Reality star and podcaster Teddi Mellencamp, 43, has been fighting for her life after the spread of a deadly form of skin cancer — and on Wednesday, she revealed some optimistic news.

Mellencamp, daughter of singer John Mellencamp and former cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” has spoken openly about the trajectory of her stage 4 melanoma.

“What we have to remember is that my cancer was skin cancer. The last time we spoke here was, like, I had skin cancer, melanoma, on my back,” the mother of three shared during a recent interview with Extra.

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“This metastasized, which is still a form of melanoma, but into my brain, into my lungs.”

Mellencamp has undergone surgery to remove four brain tumors, but an additional five tumors are still intact. She is also receiving ongoing immunotherapy and radiation treatments, she has shared on her podcast, “Two Ts In A Pod.”

Mellencamp revealed in another interview with Nightline that doctors have given her a 50/50 chance of survival.

“My tumors have significantly shrunk, which doctors believe means that this all will work and that I will be back to myself.”

“50/50? I wouldn’t buy a car that’s only gonna drive 50 percent of the time. I don’t want this,” she joked. “And he’s like, ‘No, it’s only because that’s how long immunotherapy has been around, so that’s how long the study has worked.’ So that’s when I try to then find the positive.”

On Wednesday, Mellencamp revealed in an Instagram post that her latest scan shows that all metastasized tumors in her brain and lungs have “shrunk or disappeared.”

BLOOD TEST COULD PREDICT SKIN CANCER RECURRENCE, STUDY SHOWS

“My tumors have significantly shrunk, which doctors believe means that this all will work and that I will be back to myself,” she said in the video. 

“I’m feeling good,” Mellencamp went on. “I have two more sessions of immunotherapy, and then hopefully I am done and I will be cancer-free. I’m going to keep a positive outlook, because that’s how my doctor just spoke to me — he said, ‘You did this. You got this.’”

Fox News Digital reached out to Mellencamp for comment.

Prevalence of metastatic melanoma

The incidence rate of metastatic melanoma is 0.9 per 100,000 people, per data from the National Cancer Institute.

“Melanoma has a significantly higher chance of spreading than basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the most common types of skin cancer,” said Marcus Monroe, MD, an associate professor in the Division of Otolaryngology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, in an interview with Fox News Digital. 

Mellencamp, daughter of singer John Mellencamp and former cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” has spoken openly about the trajectory of her stage 4 melanoma. (Teddi Mellencamp Instagram)

The chances of melanoma spreading to other locations increases with each stage of cancer.

“For the earliest stage, this risk is estimated at less than 5%, increasing for patients with stage 2 disease to a wider range, from 5% at the low end up to 40% to 50% for the most advanced stage 2 patients,” said Monroe.

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In stage 3 patients (those with regional spread either via in-transit metastases or to adjacent lymph nodes), up to 30% to 40% will develop distant metastases, with a 16% to 17% risk of brain metastases, the doctor added.

The brain and lungs are the most common sites of metastasis for melanoma, experts confirmed.

The chances of melanoma spreading to other locations increases with each stage of cancer. (iStock)

If the patient has lesions that are deep in the skin or involve the lymph nodes, the chance of melanoma spreading is higher — anywhere from 20% to 70%, according to Jose Lutzky, MD, director of cutaneous oncology services at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in South Florida.

Treatment and prevention

Metastatic melanoma was once considered mostly treatment-resistant because it did not respond to traditional chemotherapy and radiation, noted Dr. Joshua Strauss from Advanced Care Oncology and Hematology Associates of the Atlantic Medical Group in Morristown, New Jersey.

MELANOMA PATIENTS REVEAL DRAMATIC STORIES FOR SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: ‘I THOUGHT I WAS CAREFUL’

“Nowadays, using targeted therapies and immunotherapy survival has been dramatically improved, and there is a possibility of long-term remission with treatment,” Strauss told Fox News Digital.

Lutzky noted that melanoma is almost always curable by surgical removal when it’s detected early. 

“Because of advances in the treatment of melanoma over the last 10 to 15 years, even very advanced melanoma can be cured in up to 50% of cases with modern immunotherapy treatment,” one expert said. (iStock)

“Because of advances in the treatment of melanoma over the last 10 to 15 years, even very advanced melanoma can be cured in up to 50% of cases with modern immunotherapy treatment,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“More recently, cell therapy has been approved to treat those advanced melanomas that do not respond to immunotherapy.”

Prevention of melanoma

To prevent melanoma, it’s important to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially in people with lightly pigmented skin, Strauss advised. 

“Sunscreen and sun-protective clothing are critical,” he said.

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The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying water-resistant sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, and SPF 30 or higher, before sun exposure.

“Indoor tanning bed use should be avoided because it is known to be associated with increased melanoma risk,” Strauss added.

High-risk individuals should have yearly skin checks with a dermatologist, experts recommend. (iStock)

High-risk individuals should also have yearly skin checks with a dermatologist.  

“This includes individuals with a personal history of skin cancer, family history of melanoma, people who take medications that suppress the immune system, and people who are highly sun-sensitive, such as those with red or blond hair, light skin pigmentation, significant freckling and light eye color,” the oncologist said.

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Strauss uses the acronym ABCDE to differentiate between a normal mole and a melanoma. 

“Moles with Asymmetry, irregular Borders, multiple Colors, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and Evolving or changing characteristics require further evaluation,” he said. 

“Her courage in sharing her story and raising awareness of melanoma may just make the difference in someone else receiving lifesaving care.”

The doctors who spoke to Fox News Digital — none of whom have treated Mellencamp — shared their sentiments about the television personality’s cancer battle.

“Teddi’s situation is quite serious, but there is cause for hope and optimism with the new treatments we now have available for melanoma,” Strauss said.

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Monroe added, “Our thoughts go out to Teddi and we wish her the very best as she faces this challenge.”

“Her courage in sharing her story and raising awareness of melanoma may just make the difference in someone else receiving lifesaving care.”

Fox News’ Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in healthcare, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.

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Dancing it out can be a great way to recover from chemo.

That’s according to new research from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, which found that dancing the tango can boost neurological recovery in cancer patients by reducing lingering symptoms of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN) is a condition that can occur anywhere throughout the body, but mostly impacts the hands, feet and limbs, according to an OSU press release.

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Eighty percent of breast cancer survivors experience CIN, which can cause pain, falls, difficulty walking and diminished quality of life, experts say.

The DAANCE study assessed how the adapted Argentine tango can help restore mobility and alleviate symptoms like numbness, burning, tingling and loss of feeling in these problem areas.

The study, led by Lise Worthen-Chaudhari, PhD, a scientist in the OSU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was funded by the National Institute on Aging.

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Worthen-Chaudhari, a former dancer herself, expressed the need for alternative treatment options for CIN.

The researcher and her team designed the study for breast cancer survivors experiencing CIN who had received their last chemotherapy treatment at least three months prior.

“There is hope for recovery from the beating that cancer gives your body, brain and nerves.”

In the early stages of the study, the researchers found that small doses of social dance improved dual-task function compared to larger doses of at-home exercise.

This could be due to the cognitive engagement of dual-task functioning, the researchers concluded.

The Argentine tango, a social dance that originated in Argentina, requires cognitive engagement. (iStock)

Just 20 minutes of social dance a few times a week could begin to “rewire the neuropathways that have been impacted by cancer treatment,” according to Worthen-Chaudhari.

Preliminary data also shows that dancing the tango can lead to improvements in balance, cognitive function, motor function and neuropathy symptoms.

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The rhythm of the Argentine tango, at 120 beats per minute, helps activate a “neural phenomenon” called “entrainment,” where “two or more oscillating systems (like brainwaves or behaviors) align,” the researchers noted.

Given tango’s ideal cadence, Worthen-Chaudhari told Fox News Digital that it “made sense” that doing the dance a couple of times per week would deliver positive effects of “movement, rhythmic entrainment and social connection, all at once, in a way that promoted recovery more than any of those elements in isolation.”

Pilot data shows that this repetitive, slow music and walking dance help re-map nerves damaged by chemotherapy, she added.

“This work is about helping survivors reclaim their lives and thrive, rather than just survive.”

Other institutions have also reported success in balance and cognition after using adapted tango with Parkinson’s disease patients.

This therapy could help individuals with other conditions, such as diabetes, dementia, neurodegenerative diseases and general aging, Worthen-Chaudhari noted.

In addition to cancer patients, dancing the tango could also help individuals with other conditions and could relieve general aging effects, the researchers stated. (iStock)

An expanded five-year study will continue to look into dual-task performance, with plans to recruit 140 breast cancer survivors at the OSU Cancer Center.

The researchers will explore whether the effects of tango therapy can be sustained over time to improve movement and cognitive functions.

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“In essence, this work is about helping survivors reclaim their lives and thrive, rather than just survive,” Worthen-Chaudhari wrote in the release.

“It’s about providing them with a fun, effective way to improve their sensory motor skills and reduce the fear of falling, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being.”

The rhythm of Argentine tango activates “entrainment” in the brain, the researchers said. (iStock)

Worthen-Chaudhari, shared that she was “delighted” to find that tango with a friend could work just as well as exercise to alleviate these symptoms.

“I wanted to know if tango could do more than prevent decline … if it could stimulate neuro-recovery among those trying to recover from neuro-trauma,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“I’m excited about an option that doesn’t require sweating, such that you have to shower before going back to work or out to dinner.”

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“In retrospect, I can see that it makes sense, but I was surprised that the results were clear even in an initial study of the idea,” the scientist added.

She assured, “There is hope for recovery from the beating that cancer gives your body, brain and nerves.”