Cancer Patient Bets on His Life

PlusCancer Patient Bets on His LifeCancer Patient Bets on His LifeThe Associated PressA British man who bet on his chances of beating his terminal cancer prognosis, won almost $10,000 for living. (June 3)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [Notes:MATTHEWS WALKING INTO BETTING SHOP]DIAGNOSED WITH TERMINAL CANCER, JON MATTHEWS LITERALLY DECIDED TO PLAY WITH THOSE ODDS." I mean if I have lasted this long, and my mind is giving me this situation of: well, if I've got this far I can get further." [Notes:MATTHEWS AT TABLE] [Notes:PEOPLE IN BETTING SHOP][Notes:MATHEWS WRITING BET SLIP] IN APRIL 2006 DOCTORS TOLD MATTHEWS THAT HE WOULDN'T LIVE PAST CHRISTMAS. AFTER BEATING THOSE ODDS, MATTHEWS DECIDED THAT HIS LIFE WAS WORTH A GAMBLE. HE PLACE A BET WITH BOOKMAKERS, THAT HE WOULD SURVIVE UNTIL JUNE 1, 2008 - 25 MONTHS AFTER HIS DIAGNOSIS. [Notes:7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jon Matthews, Cancer Survivor:]"Just the fact that I had lasted six months more than they said I would. And I thought, well why not? [Notes:9. SOUNDBITE (English) Andy Nicholson, Friend:] "I wanted to see him win the bet, I wanted to see him alive. It is really difficult because I want to see him win the next bet but at the same time it is so hard." [Notes:HANDING SLIP TO BOOKEE]MATTHEWS BET ABOUT 198 US DOLLARS - AT ODDS OF 50 TO ONE THAT HE WOULD LIVE. [Notes:BETTING LOBBY] OVER THE WEEKEND HE COLLECTED ALMOST $10,000 DOLLARS IN WINNINGS. HE SAYS HE'S ON A ROLL SO HE'S GOING TO KEEP BETTING BIG. MATTHEWS HAS ALREADY PLACED A SECOND BET THAT HE WILL STILL BE AROUND THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. [Notes:WATCHING BET SCREEN]WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY, MATTHEWS HOPES TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO COLLECT HIS WINNINGS YEAR, AFTER YEAR. ___ ___, The Associated Press.(****END****) (ANCHOR VOICE: EDonhue-------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: NHawkins------------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: APTN--------------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: EFreeland------------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: No access UK----------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE: APTN------------------------------------)

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[i8246i]

FREAKING SWEET!

[manoman68]

Good for him!!!-Nonsarcasticly

[KONTRAone]

you make good points, but there is evidence linking our DNA with our thought process, showing signs of interdependency. the mind literally dictates all bodily functions, which would lead one to assume that these processes could be over-ridden through conscious thought. either way, when all known medicine fails, the placebo effect still works.

[procommenter]

There's no point to treating a disease of starvation, which is what cancer is, with anything but what our bodies hunger for. It's human nature to dread death. The survival instinct is within all creatures.

[PrUnEJuIcEtHeThIrD]

Yeah perhaps keeping a positive attitude has no affect on the cancer/disease, but would u rather live ur life positive, or dreading death?

[laetrille]

You are absolutley right b-17 prevents cancer, but I was too late. Well I think you have something missing in your logic the only thing that will ever cure cancer is the immune system, nothing else. I am personaly going into immunology research and will be, if not curing cancer, leaving my work to be continued.

[eskimo1in1africa]

dude i have cancer :(

[tylermacey]

Remember, sadly doctors only know number/odds and stats but they don't know you. You are unique and obviously this video has proven that. Congrats on your milestone!

[mojomalo18]

sorry but thats not a "win-win". its more like a "nothing to lose"

[DAJ01]

Well, its pretty much win-win for him, huh? If he lives he wins the bet and gets payed out, and if he dies he loses the bet, but it doesn't matter, because he's dead!

Wow, theres not really anything to lose...