A 'lucky' winner of $1,000,000 in the New York State lottery, wasn't so lucky after all.

The 51 year old, who has mesothelioma, planned to spend his winnings on treatment of his disease by checking into a Philadelphia hospital that specializes in such treatment - he thought it would buy him a little more time. Then he discovered that the New York lottery prize is paid out at the rate of $50,000 per annum over 20 years - nowhere near enough to cover the cost of his treatment, which requires $125,000 up front and $250,000 in reserves.

With the fortitude and good humor that seems to typify sufferers of this dreadful disease, he said, "if it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all."

A little something to think about before Christmas...