Professor Richard Scolyer reveals update on brain cancer
A former Australian of the Year has opened up on his resurgent brain cancer after delivering a message to Aussies about life.
Illness
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illness. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A renowned pathologist whose inspiring battle against brain cancer saw him honoured as Australian of the Year has revealed his “worry” at new scans.
Professor Richard Scolyer was diagnosed with an aggressive tumour in 2023 was “patient zero” in undergoing experimental treatment for his “incurable” cancer.
He was given an experimental immunotherapy treatment, based on melanoma science, and had no sign of recurrence for 18 months.
But it was revealed in March that his glioblastoma had returned.
Prof Scolyer, who was jointly awarded the 2024 Australian of the Year alongside research partner Georgina Long, took to Instagram on Friday to share an update on his journey.
He spoke about being “a bit worried” after undergoing an MRI scan, which he said was “my first proper scan since the brain surgery in early March 2025”.
“Depending on what the scan shows, it will help choose what are the next forms of therapies I can have to see where I need to go from here,” he said.
“I guess I’m a little up and down with all this that’s going on, it’s a tough journey at times. Sometimes I’m happy to have fun but some of the therapies have knocked me around a bit so I can’t do some of the things I love doing.
“I’m still having a fun time at home with my kids, they’ve been very kind as well as my beautiful wife Katie has, who’s been using her incredible intellect to help me speak to different doctors about various options that are available.”
Prof Scolyer was hopeful “things will move forward in the right direction” after recent treatment has not been “as successful”.
“Fingers crossed this operation isn’t so bad and we can move forward with the next form of therapy and hopefully push things along faster to try and get things open up for many, many patients who have got glioblastoma.”
Prof Scolyer spoke on ABC News Breakfast this week about his health outlook, saying he could live for “months” or “less”. He opened up about what he felt was most important in life.
“I’m still here and still able to chat to you so I’m pretty pleased about that,” he said.
“Who knows how long I’ve got. Could be months, could be less.
“I love my life. I love the interactions I have with so many people.
“I guess in reality, 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.”
A specialist of 25 years, he said the fact that “basically no one is cured” from the type of brain cancer he has “doesn’t sit right with me”.
“Melanoma, if it had spread around your body, what we call stage 4 melanoma, everyone died about 15 years ago,” he said.
“Now we’re curing close to 60 per cent of such patients.
“There are a lot of reasons why it’s harder to treat brain cancer than melanoma, but to use some of the leanings that we’ve made at an earlier phase gives us a better chance.”
Prof Scolyer’s message to ABC viewers: “Be passionate about it (life), enjoy hanging out with the people that you love. Yeah, enjoy it.”
Originally published as Professor Richard Scolyer reveals update on brain cancer
Heartbreak as Aussie artist dies giving birth
There has been an outpouring of tributes to a mum-of-three after she died after chronicling her latest pregnancy online.
‘Whole world changed’: Mum’s terrifying diagnosis during pregnancy
After enduring seven years of infertility, Marni’s dreams were realised with a successful first round of IVF. She was shocked to discover it to be twins, but the real, devastating shock was yet to come.