When 27-year-old Marly Garnreiter turned to ChatGPT with questions about her persistent night sweats and itchy skin, she never imagined it would lead her down a path toward a life-altering diagnosis. What started as a casual interaction with an AI chatbot would later echo in the most unexpected way—after doctors confirmed she had blood cancer nearly a year later.

Her story is raising new questions about how tools like ChatGPT might help spark earlier conversations around symptoms—and how easily warning signs can be missed or brushed aside.

A Young Woman, AI, and a Missed Cancer Diagnosis

Marly Garnreiter began experiencing night sweats and itchy skin in early 2024, shortly after losing her father to colon cancer. Many would dismiss such symptoms as stress or anxiety related to grief. Her doctor agreed after routine blood tests that it came back normal.

Curious, Marly entered her symptoms into ChatGPT, an AI chatbot. ChatGPT suggested she might have blood cancer. Marly and her friends dismissed this alarming assessment, preferring to trust human medical professionals over machine analysis.

Almost a year passed before Marly returned to her doctor. By Christmas 2024, she developed two new symptoms: chest pain and persistent fatigue. Her doctor ordered scans, which revealed a large mass on her left lung. A biopsy confirmed Hodgkin lymphoma, exactly what ChatGPT had suggested months earlier.

Marly expressed anger at her delayed diagnosis. “I didn’t want my family to go through this one more time,” she said, referring to her father’s cancer battle. Her experience raises profound questions about medical diagnosis, patient advocacy, and AI integration in healthcare.

Sneaky Cancer Signs Most People Miss

Hodgkin lymphoma affects approximately 2,100 people annually in the UK. Many cases remain undetected in early stages because symptoms mimic common illnesses.

Early warning signs include:

• Painless swelling of lymph nodes: This often occurs in the neck, armpits, or groin. While these lumps are usually not painful, some people might ache.
• Persistent fatigue: You may always feel tired, which doesn’t go away with rest.
• Unexplained fever: This could be a fever that comes and goes without an apparent reason.
• Drenching night sweats: You might experience heavy sweating during sleep, soaking your clothes and bedding.
• Unexplained weight loss: Losing significant weight without trying can be another early sign.
• Itchy skin: The skin all over your body might feel itchy.

Marly initially experienced only night sweats and itchy skin – symptoms easily attributed to stress or minor health issues. Medical professionals missed these subtle warning signs, while AI connected them to potential blood cancer.

According to medical experts, when caught early, Hodgkin lymphoma has a five-year survival rate exceeding 80%. Many patients respond well to treatment, making early detection crucial for positive outcomes.

Your Body Knows Before Your Tests Do

Medical tests provide valuable data, but sometimes miss developing conditions. Blood tests measure specific markers at specific moments, potentially missing early disease indicators.

Marly’s normal blood test results initially reassured her and her doctor, leading them to dismiss her symptoms. Bodies often signal problems long before measurable changes appear in laboratory tests.

“Listen to your body,” Marly urged after her diagnosis. “Sometimes we tend to lose our connection with our inner self. Pay attention when something feels wrong.”

Medical professionals now encourage patients to track persistent symptoms, even when test results appear normal. Minor symptoms persisting for weeks deserve medical attention, mainly when multiple symptoms occur together.

Dr. Nandi often reminds patients that nobody knows your body better than you do. Persistent symptoms, even subtle ones, warrant medical follow-up. Always seek additional opinions if symptoms continue despite reassurance from initial test results.

Can AI Replace Your Doctor?

AI tools like ChatGPT rely on vast datasets of medical information to identify patterns humans might miss. While impressive, these tools remain supplements to, not replacements for, medical professionals.

Medical experts caution against using artificial intelligence as a primary diagnostic tool. AI lacks clinical experience, cannot perform physical examinations, and may identify patterns without understanding medical context.

Many healthcare facilities now integrate AI as screening tools to flag potential issues for doctor review. AI excels at pattern recognition across large datasets, potentially identifying subtle symptom combinations that warrant further investigation.

Patients benefit most when AI is used alongside professional medical care, not as a substitute. Medical professionals bring clinical experience, diagnostic testing capabilities, and human judgment to health decisions.

My Personal RX on Health Advocacy Through Technology

Medical technology advances every day, creating new opportunities for early disease detection. When used correctly, AI tools represent promising additions to our health toolkit. Many patients miss warning signs of severe conditions because symptoms seem vague or unrelated.

Learning to advocate for yourself represents one of the most potent health practices you can develop. Medical knowledge grows exponentially, making partnerships between patients and healthcare providers more essential. Patients who research their symptoms thoughtfully often help doctors connect the diagnostic dots faster.

1. Track symptoms systematically: Document when and how long they last, and what makes them better or worse. Bring this information to doctor appointments.
   
2. Research from reliable sources: Medical websites from academic institutions or government health organizations provide accurate information without causing unnecessary alarm.
   
3. Boost your defenses through your gut: MindBiotic combines probiotics, prebiotics, and Ashwagandha KSM 66 to optimize your gut-brain axis, potentially strengthening your immune system against disorders like lymphoma.
   
4. Learn basic health terminology: Understanding medical language helps you communicate your concerns more effectively with healthcare providers.
   
5. Request copies of all test results: Maintaining personal health records allows you to track changes over time and share information with specialists if needed.
   
6. Bring an advocate to appointments: Friends or family members can help ask questions and remember information discussed during appointments.
   
7. Trust your body’s signals: Persistent symptoms deserve attention, even when initial tests appear normal.
   
8. Try recipes from our Mindful Meals cookbook. The cookbook has over 100 doctor-approved, gut-healing recipes that provide nutrition that supports your immune system while promoting mental clarity—a foundation for better overall health.
   
9. Develop a relationship with a primary care provider: Regular visits allow doctors to notice subtle changes in your health over time.
   
10. Seek second opinions without hesitation: Medical professionals expect and respect patients who want confirmation of diagnoses, especially for severe conditions.
    

Source: 

1. Kahn, J., Dabaja, B., Wu, S., Kelly, K., Berkahn, L., Pavlovsky, A., Sureda, A., & LaCasce, A. (2023). Classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Hematological Oncology, 42(6). https://doi.org/10.1002/hon.3239 
2. Wang, H., Balakrishna, J. P., Pittaluga, S., & Jaffe, E. S. (2018). Diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma in the modern era. British Journal of Haematology, 184(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.15614 
3. Guo, W., & Chen, Y. (2025). Investigating whether AI will replace human physicians and understanding the interplay of the source of consultation, Health-Related Stigma, and explanations of Diagnoses on patients’ evaluations of medical consultations: Randomized Factorial Experiment. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e66760. https://doi.org/10.2196/66760