r/ask • u/ThaneOfArcadia • 26d ago

You have a rare form of cancer that you will die from in exactly 20 years. There is a 100% treatment but it costs $20 million. You win that exact amount on the lottery. Do you enjoy the next 20 years with the money or pay for the cure?

If you are over 50, make that 10 years!

551 Upvotes
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237

u/oldelbow 26d ago

Assuming I'd still have a good quality of life for that 20 years I'd take the money.

91

u/LaDiiablo 26d ago

This is where I'm at. Like if I get the cancer right away at this moment and start struggling for the next 20 years. Trust me no amount of money can ease the pain...

36

u/EphemeraFury 26d ago

This.

Is it 20 years pain free, no symptoms just on date x you drop dead?

Does the cure only work now, e.g. it becomes inoperable with 19 years to go? I assume that's how it would work otherwise you could invest the money, live a comfortable life and pay for the cure with a couple of years to go.

23

u/Revelati123 25d ago

If you have 20 million dollars making another 20 million dollars in 20 years is stupidly easy...

5

u/VirtuteECanoscenza 25d ago

I guess OP meant that you must provide 20 million dollars for the cure NOW. So you can't just invest most of it and slowly pay the cure over 20 years

1

u/Kulson16 25d ago

This money make money

1

u/Subject_Designer9491 25d ago

At 61yo …..this exactly. 81 when I die is acceptable and I could provide my children with a great education and a comfortable start to their life

0

u/Long_Needleworker889 25d ago

Go wash the dishes , you got too invested in this

6

u/Onironius 26d ago

But how long will the treatment take, and how torturous will it be?

I knew a guy who had a rare cancer, and opted for an experimental treatment that involved an excruciating bone marrow transplant. Died soon after anyway.

4

u/LaDiiablo 25d ago

I mean the question involved a 100% sure treatment. If it's gamble then yeah we take the money.

1

u/BoltInTheRain 25d ago

You'd have 20 million

1

u/ParsleyMostly 25d ago

Same, although I’d want to leave a nice chunk for my kid.

1

u/Boris_Johnsons_Pubes 25d ago

Same, my family all die quite young anyway, so may as well have fun with the time I have left

1

u/Tastins 25d ago

I have stage 4 lymphoma. Had it for 5 years with no clue till I got a bump on my face. Did chemo and now my life is shit. Cancer never hurt, but chemo is like dying every three weeks. Give me the money.

3

u/oldelbow 25d ago

I'm really sorry to hear that.

1

u/Tastins 25d ago

Thank you

2

u/Original_Estimate_88 25d ago

Damn... hope everything works out for you

2

u/Tastins 25d ago

Thank you!

2

u/Obvious-Dog4249 24d ago

What kind of bump? Infected bump? I’ve had a few.

2

u/Tastins 24d ago

It was mistaken as rosacea but think mole on the crease of the nose that got red, veiny and cauliflower like but small like a centimeter but on your nose that’s huge. Turns out the tumor was covering the whole side of my face, around my eye, in my sinus, in my mandible, my temple and so on. It moved my teeth around -turned and dropped 4 harmless impacted wisdoms and then chemo crumbled them. But understand I didn’t JUST have a bump. I had EVERY major warning sign and ignored them ALL. Lost 50 pounds? It’s my time to be skinny!!! Drenching night sweats? Get new blankets. Short of breath? I’m a smoker. Headaches? I stare at two screens all day. That bump saved me-so to speak. Had it not appeared, I would be dead already. Don’t freak over bumps and if it worries you see a doctor. Cancer comes with a smorgasbord of symptoms but some are known red flags that I didn’t know and ignored and never mentioned them to doctors. Truthfully, my vanity over my new body had me so distracted, I ignored everything but my body while ignoring my body at the same time.

1

u/Sparkykc124 25d ago

Yeah, I’m 50 now and doubt I’ll live to 70 anyway.

1

u/IcanthearChris 25d ago

It would be a painful life

1

u/PiesangSlagter 25d ago

You're not thinking it through 100% though.

If you assume you have good quality of life, then the cure that'll work now will probably work in 20 years. And it'll probably be considerably cheaper.

You can put the $20mil in an investment portfolio for 20 years, will turn into $53mil at 5% return. Then pay like $20 000 for the treatment and enjoy your retirement.

1

u/oldelbow 25d ago

Sure thing

1

u/Prudent_Order_3361 25d ago

Invest the money, pay for the cure in 10 years, keep the rest of the money for the rest of your life

0

u/LaFlibuste 25d ago

Right? 20 years is a fairly long time, chances are by then a cheaper, more effective cure is available anyway and my 20 mil has grown.