I think one of the points I didn't quite manage to make is that, in this situation, there isn't really a cure (and you can't find one in six months). I'm reminded of Bean from Ender's Shadow, who finds out that he's only going to live to about 20. The medical team researching him wishes that he could help, genius that he is, but Bean was taught warfare, not biology.

You raise a good point, though, that if you are really good at something, you should probably keep doing it - much like Bean helps Peter Wiggin wage his war.