World renowned cancer researcher Professor Richard Scolyer has revealed he may only have a few months to live after his own cancer returned this year.
The 2024 Australian of the Year, 58, was diagnosed with an ‘incurable’ grade four brain cancer in June 2023 after he suffered headaches and seizures while on holiday.
However, he remarkably managed to heal himself using his team’s groundbreaking research and immunotherapy treatments. He had been cancer-free for almost two years.
The treatment was developed with the help of Georgina Long from the Melanoma Institute, who was jointly given the Australian of Year award with Professor Scolyer.
Sadly, in March this year, he revealed the cancer had returned.
‘I’m still here and still able to chat to you so I’m pretty pleased about that,’ Professor Scolyer told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday.
‘Who knows how long I’ve got. Could be months, could be less,’ he said.
‘I love my life. I love the interactions I have with so many people … I have focused down on the things that I like doing. Spending more time with my family is number one, but also contributing to society. It’s something I’ve done for a long, long time.’
Professor Richard Scolyer (pictured) has revealed he may only have a few months to live after his brain cancer returned this year
Professor Scolyer had initially been diagnosed with a glioblastoma, which has a particularly aggressive nature – most sufferers survive less than a year.
The bulk of the tumour was stripped shortly after the diagnosis.
Then followed a series of experimental therapies based on his own melanoma research, including immunotherapy, ‘debulking’ surgery and a ‘cancer vaccine’ .
In May last year, the University of Sydney professor declared that he had been cancer-free for nearly 12 months.
But five months later, the decorated scientist revealed an MRI had shown an area of concern.
He underwent exploratory surgery which confirmed the cancer had returned.
The 2021 Order of Australia recipient remains philosophical about his journey, stating that he ‘just wants to make a difference’.
He is a prolific author having penned more than 700 publications and book chapters on melanoma pathology, which garnered him a reputation as one of the world’s leading experts in the field.
Professor Scolyer and his colleague Professor Georgina Long (pictured) were jointly announced Australians of the year in 2024, in recognition of their ground-breaking work studying skin cancer
On Wednesday, his book of a different kind – about his own cancer fight titled ‘Brainstorm’ – was awarded the Social Impact Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards in Melbourne.
More to follow.
