It was common enough in the 20th century, but maybe not the 21st. Well, it was used in Game of Thrones and Hamilton. I only know that because younger people had to ask about it.
Life expectancy with glioblastoma is an average of about eight months after diagnosis, so I hope they can get to human trials soon. With mortality rates like that, they will have no problem finding human volunteers.
Now that I think about it, we really don't have enough information on the mathematician with cancer. You honestly don't have to be mentally ill to consider the implications of the disease and decide to skip the painful part if you are terminal. Sad, but not necessarily crazy.
It's plausible that when you have to drink a gallon of that stuff, you belt it back in a hurry and wouldn't notice a bug fell in your drink. It's also plausible in this day and age that someone at the clinic slipped it in for the pic and the lulz.
Yes, and that just goes to prove that if you want to exclude someone bad enough, you can find a rationale. When the 14th was new, the writers figured the only exceptions would be children born in the US of a foreign diplomat parent (and the argument later included some Native Americans).
"Uh, shoes."
"Shoes"
"Shoes"
"Shoes"
"Shoes"
"Shoes. Are you going to ask me about my pants?"