In the "negative" example (non curable cancer) there is a huge difference: 1) living from 62 to 66 blissfully unaware of it (and thus at least living peacefull

In the "negative" example (non curable cancer) there is a huge difference: 1) living from 62 to 66 blissfully unaware of it (and thus at least living peacefully these 4 years) 2) living from 62 to 66 in a extremely preoccupied status and possibly with the side effets of the (ending up as ineffective) cures Though in many cases of non-early diagnosis there is the "regret" about "if it had been diagnosed earlier then it would have been probably curable" which may (or may not) be an aggravation of the quality of life in the last 4 years (66-70). Tough to say what is better for the unfortunate patient.