Not 'doomed', but very much on the bad side of afflictions. I wouldn't send that particular pretender into mortal combat alone, and I might think about casting Gift of Health at that point.
The chance to get affliction is pretty high, and if you are "lucky" you get the neverending decease which means you are doomed. In a early games for a battle-pretender the curse is a nightmare, because Gift Of Health is an Enchantment level 5. I noticed that spell luck don't negate the bad effect of curse which I think it should, not removing the curse just holding against the effect(s).