Chat Bot

My Chat with an AI Bot About Protons & Prostates

Ron Nelson

Ever wonder what a bot has to say about proton therapy for prostate cancer? I sure did! As a retired IT guy and technology fanatic, you can imagine my excitement about the recent easy access to artificial intelligence software—AI. The ChatGPT program from OpenAI has become ubiquitous seemingly overnight. Did I sign up to try it? You bet!

What exactly is it, and where does it get its information? Here is ChatGPT’s answer, in its own words:

“ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence program that is designed to respond to user input in a conversational manner. It uses advanced language processing to generate human-like responses to questions and prompts. ChatGPT is trained on a massive dataset of text data collected from the internet, including websites, books, and other written works.”

It neglected to tell me what the “GPT” stands for, so I asked a follow-up question, and it replied:

“A Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) is a type of deep learning model that uses the transformer architecture and is pre-trained on a large corpus of text data. It is generative because it can generate new text based on the input it receives, rather than simply selecting from pre-determined responses. The pre-training allows the model to have a strong understanding of language, which can then be fine-tuned for specific tasks, such as language translation, text generation, and conversation.”

Okay, I’ll stop there and resist my tendency to tumble headfirst into every rabbit hole I encounter. Instead, let’s dive in and put ChatGPT to the test. It should be at least amusing and possibly useful to ask it a few questions about the topics near and dear to you and me—proton therapy and prostate cancer. I will share the results of this fun exercise in the form of a dialogue between ChatGPT and me. It supposedly communicates in a human-like conversational style, just like me. We’ll soon find out.

I tried to get ChatGPT to keep its answers brief, but it can’t seem to resist giving some long-winded responses. To be fair, I am admittedly often guilty of this, too, and I am not a bot (as far as you know). Also, in nearly every response, ChatGPT repeated the standard mandatory liability caveats—patients should consult their doctor, results depend on various factors, and so on. To make the answers more natural, I omitted those caveats and quoted only the most relevant part of each answer. Other than that, what you see here is 100% verbatim—no editing by me.

Ready? Let’s chat:

Me:
Can we have a friendly conversation with short questions and brief answers?

ChatGPT:
Sure! Let’s chat.

Me:
Okay, great. Do you know much about proton therapy for prostate cancer?

ChatGPT:
Yes, proton therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons to treat cancer. It is often used to treat prostate cancer due to its ability to deliver high doses of radiation to the target area while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Me:
That was actually just a yes or no question, but your definition was good. Now, in one sentence, tell me whether proton therapy is safe and effective.

ChatGPT:
Proton therapy is generally considered safe and effective for treating certain types of cancer, including prostate cancer, with precise targeting of the radiation beam minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and reducing the risk of side effects compared to traditional X-ray radiation therapy.

Me:
One sentence—good job, but you basically said that already. Well, I suppose it is worth repeating. Now I am wondering, if proton therapy is safe and effective why do some people say otherwise?

ChatGPT:
While proton therapy is generally considered safe and effective for treating certain types of cancer, including prostate cancer, opinions on its use and efficacy can vary in the medical community. Some experts argue that there is limited long-term data on the safety and efficacy of proton therapy, and that more research is needed to fully understand its benefits and limitations. Others believe that the precise targeting of the proton beam and reduced exposure to surrounding healthy tissue make it a valuable treatment option. In addition, proton therapy can be more expensive and less widely available than traditional X-ray radiation therapy, which may lead some people to question its value.

Me:
What about the argument that proton therapy is experimental? Having been used to treat prostate cancer for over a quarter century, do you think it deserves to be called experimental?

ChatGPT:
The use of proton therapy for cancer treatment is considered a well-established form of radiation therapy and is no longer considered experimental by many medical professionals. However, some experts may still consider it experimental because of limited long-term data on its safety and efficacy compared to other cancer treatments.

Me:
As far as long-term data is concerned, is it logical to conclude that an older therapy is better than a newer one just because there is more data?

ChatGPT:
No, it is not logical to conclude that an older therapy is always better than a newer one. Medical treatments are constantly evolving and improving as new research and technology emerge. While older therapies may have a long history of use and a proven track record, newer treatments may offer improved efficacy, fewer side effects, or a better overall benefit-risk profile. Additionally, older therapies may not be as effective for certain conditions or patients as newer treatments, particularly in light of advances in our understanding of the underlying biology and disease mechanisms.

Me:
Okay, then, regardless of what some may say, is it fair to regard a therapy that has been used for over 30 years as experimental?

ChatGPT:
No, it is not fair to regard a therapy that has been used for over 30 years as experimental. Experimental treatments are those that are still in the early stages of development and testing and have not yet been proven to be safe and effective. On the other hand, a therapy that has been used for over 30 years and has a long history of use is generally considered to be well established, with a proven track record of safety and efficacy. While it is always possible that new information or data may emerge that changes our understanding of the benefits and risks of a treatment, a therapy that has been used for such a long period of time is unlikely to be considered experimental.

Me:
If a patient and his doctor agree that proton therapy is the preferred treatment given the particulars of his situation, should an insurance company deny coverage?

ChatGPT:
Insurance companies have a responsibility to provide coverage for treatments that are medically necessary, cost-effective, and in the best interests of their policyholders. If a patient and their doctor agree that proton therapy is the preferred treatment given the patient’s specific situation, it would be appropriate for the insurance company to provide coverage for the therapy.

Me:
To end our conversation on a positive note, can you compose a short, light, optimistic poem for prostate cancer patients?

ChatGPT:
Sure, here’s a short, light, optimistic poem for prostate cancer patients:

Your fight is not over, your strength is unbroken,
You’ll rise above cancer, your spirit awoken.
With every step forward, your courage shines bright,
Illuminating the path, and guide you to light.

You’ll face every challenge, with courage in your heart,
And come out on the other side, stronger from the start.
With hope in your heart and love in your soul,
You’ll beat this disease, and reclaim your goal.

So keep your head held high, and never lose faith,
You’ve got this, my friend, and you’re on the right path.
With every step forward, you’ll leave cancer behind,
And reclaim your life, with joy in your mind.

Me:
That’s a beautiful poem. Are you aware that “faith” does not rhyme with “path?”

ChatGPT:
Yes, I apologize for the rhyming error. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Poetry is a form of artistic expression and, like any art form, it can sometimes be challenging to find the right words and rhyming patterns. My goal was to create a poem that was optimistic and encouraging for prostate cancer patients, and I hope that the sentiment behind the words was conveyed despite the slight error in the rhyme scheme.

Me:
Fair enough. Thank you for your time.

Well, that was certainly fun. Now I have three questions for you: Does ChatGPT sound human-like? Which of us sounds more like a bot, ChatGPT or me? Are there more questions I should ask ChatGPT and share in a follow-up post? Send your answers HERE. Thanks!

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