Former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer Shares' Poor Diagnosis' as Brain Cancer Returns

Former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer has said that his prognosis is "poor" following his most recent operation, which found that his brain cancer has returned.

On social media, where he updates the world on his brain cancer journey, he stated that there was a "larger volume" of rapidly spreading brain cancer.

When the prominent melanoma pathologist was diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma in 2023, he volunteered to be "patient zero" for breakthrough brain cancer treatment. In November 2023, he told Australian Story that the prognosis for this "worst of the worst" brain cancer ranged from six to eight months.

He kept the disease at bay for 22 months with no recurrence, giving him valuable time to pursue his hobbies, such as biking and running.

Professor Scolyer's method includes leveraging insights from melanoma treatment to brain cancer. 

 Professor Scolyer was the first in the world to get combination immunotherapy before having a brain tumor removed, a technique pioneered by his 2024 co-Australian of the Year, Professor Georgina Long, and colleagues.

Professor Scolyer underwent surgery last Monday after recent scans revealed worrying abnormalities in his brain.  The operation revealed that the brain cancer had returned.

"The prognosis is poor," Professor Scolyer posted on Instagram, where people worldwide have been following his story and expressing their affection.

"Whilst some of my recurrent ttumorwas removed last week, some of it couldn't be because of its site."

He stated that while immunotherapy and anti-cancer vaccine treatments were effective, clinical trials were required to demonstrate this.

On Monday evening, Professor Scolyer appeared on Channel Nine's A Current Affair. He stated that his priority was to spend the time he had left with his family, which included his wife, Katie, and children, Emily, Matthew, and Lucy.

"It's unfair, but there's a lesson for everyone."  "Make the most of each day because you never know what's going to happen," he told A Current Affair.

"This is heartbreaking.  "I'm not prepared to die."

Professor Scolyer told ACA doctors warned him he could only anticipate three months.

"I feel a difference already..."  My brain isn't operating as well as it once did. I'm sliding downward in a way I've never experienced before, which is problematic.

"But in all honesty, I didn't think I'd be alive today, so I am grateful that I've been able to make a difference to future patients."

Professor Scolyer also expressed pride in the data obtained by the team following his treatment, which was recently published in the journal Nature Medicine.

"Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with one of the most serious types of brain cancer for which there is no cure.  Screw that.  "I'm not happy to accept that," he told Australian Story in 2023. 

"I want to do something that gives me a fighting chance against this tumour."

"I hope [the data] will make a difference for others," Professor Scolyer stated on Instagram.

"I greatly appreciate the support of all my family, friends and colleagues who have been looking after me so well."