Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer has posted a worrying update on his recovery from a brain tumor, just months after undergoing world-leading treatment based on his own research into melanoma.
Professor Scolyer and his colleague Professor Georgina Long, co-directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia, were jointly recognized in January this year for their pioneering work in studying skin cancer.
There was added interest in the respected researcher when he accepted the award after it was announced that he had been diagnosed with incurable grade 4 brain cancer in June 2023.
The father-of-three’s diagnosis came after he suffered a headache and then a seizure while on holiday in Poland.
His cancer, a glioblastoma, is often called “the worst” type of cancer because of its aggressive nature, with most patients surviving less than a year after diagnosis.
After undergoing experimental therapy based on his own research into melanoma, the 57-year-old announced in May this year that he had been cancer-free for almost a year.
“I’m just excited and elated… I couldn’t be happier,” he posted on social media.
But in a post on Wednesday, Professor Scolyer revealed that the results of his latest MRI brain scan showed ‘a small new focus of improvement’.
Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer has posted a worrying update on his recovery from a brain tumor, just months after using a leading treatment based on his own research into melanoma
Professor Scolyer posted two scan images, with the most recent one on the right
“Experts believe that this reflects changes after radiotherapy rather than a recurrence of glioblastoma,” he wrote.
‘The plan is to have an early follow-up scan in six to eight weeks to monitor it and see if it changes.’
He concluded by thanking his neuro-oncology team and staff at Royal North Shore Hospital for ‘looking after me so well’.
Professor Scolyer became the world’s first brain cancer patient to receive combination immunotherapy before surgery, which teaches the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.
He has shared his struggle widely online to raise awareness of treatment options and the progress being made with new methods.
Professor Scolyer and his colleague Professor Georgina Long, co-directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia, jointly received the prestigious national award in January this year in recognition of their pioneering work in studying the skin cancer
After his first brain scan, Professor Scolyer said he knew the revelation of an area of light, cloudy matter in the top right corner of his skull was worrying.
“I’m not an expert in radiology, but… in my heart I knew it was a tumor,” he said.
The discovery prompted him to consider whether his research into melanoma could be relevant to treating his own brain cancer.
‘It didn’t suit me to just accept certain death without trying anything. Is it an incurable cancer? Well, damn it!’
Approximately 300,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year.
Many commenters on his latest post shared stories of family members lost to the insidious disease.
After undergoing experimental therapy based on his own research into melanoma, the 57-year-old father of three announced in May this year that he had been cancer-free for almost a year
“What a damn warrior you are!” someone wrote in praise of Professor Scolyer.
“My beautiful husband passed away in August from this horrible disease, just 12 months after he was diagnosed,” someone else wrote.
‘It’s such a cruel disease.
“You’re so inspiring, Richard, and thanks for sharing.”
It is hoped that Professor Scolyer’s experimental treatment will lead to clinical trials for other patients, potentially extending their lives.
Daily Mail Australia approached Professor Scolyer for comment.