Your calm, clear, AI-powered action plan
That’s my son Ian with me and my amazing mother. When my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given three months to live, I was devastated. But I did what I always do when life gets tough. I focus on the problem.
I read every clinical study I could get my hands on, studied treatment protocols along with DNA mutations and even asked her doctor to teach me how to read a PET scan. (He did, and I could actually understand what I was seeing.)
That knowledge didn’t take away the fear, but it gave me a sense of control and helped me ask better questions, push for better care and support her in a real way.
So if you, or someone you love, gets hit with a scary diagnosis, know this: You don’t have to rely only on Google or five rushed minutes in a doctor’s office. Today, you’ve got AI.
🤖 ChatGPT is your assistant
ChatGPT can be your shortcut to real understanding. Start your prompt with, “Act like a medical researcher” or “Explain this like I’m new to this topic.”
Then paste in anything you’re trying to decode, i.e., your diagnosis, lab results, side effects, medication complications, a medical article or schedules for the best time to take pills.
Ask it to summarize, translate complex language or compare treatment options. You’ll get clear, human-sounding explanations without having to wade through endless jargon.
Try asking:
- “What’s a simple explanation of [your diagnosis]?”
- “What are common side effects of [X] treatment?”
- “Which hospitals are best for treating [condition]?”
- “Summarize recent research about [disease].”
- “Are there any new clinical trials for [condition]?”
⚠️ But be smart
Always verify what you find. Ask ChatGPT for sources. Cross-check with trusted sites like Mayo Clinic or NIH and talk to your doctor before making any decisions.
Use this calculator to determine your risk of contracting COVID-19
As the Delta variant forces us to change strategies when dealing with COVID-19, more tools are available to give us a hand. Each state has its own policies and rate of infection, which also factor into the mix.
The Mayo Clinic has an interactive map that shows a rolling average of daily COVID cases for the past week across the U.S. It also has an option to look ahead for two weeks. Tap or click here for more information on this helpful tool.