Richard Scolyer didn’t expect to be still alive. Now he’s meeting the King

Professor Richard Scolyer did not expect to be alive now.

When the joint Australian of the Year was diagnosed with brain cancer in May last year, he learnt that the median survival for patients with the condition was just 14 months. That gave him until July this year.

But the world-renowned melanoma pathologist is still well enough to be working, exercising and he and his fellow Australian of the Year, Professor Georgina Long, the two co-medical directors of Melanoma Institute Australia, will meet King Charles during his visit to Sydney next Tuesday.

Professor Richard Scolyer with Professor Georgina Long after being announced as Australian of the Year in Canberra in January.Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald

Scolyer, who has almost reached 17 months since he was diagnosed, is looking forward to meeting the King and talking about the Institute’s success saving the lives of advanced melanoma patients with immunotherapy, which supercharges the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells.

“The fact we’re both cancer patients – a lot of people have cancer – but given this is our medical specialty, I hope there’s a special bond between us,” he said.

With the standard treatment for glioblastoma offering no hope for survival, Scolyer took the courageous course of trying a radical treatment that could have killed him quickly in the hope of improving the chances of future brain cancer patients.

He became the world’s first glioblastoma patient to be treated with immunotherapy before surgery to remove the bulk of the tumour and a personalised cancer vaccine.

Professor Richard Scolyer at Melanoma Institute Australia, where he is co-medical director with Professor Georgina Long.Credit: Tim Bauer

When they were announced as joint Australian of the Year in January, the 57-year-old spoke emotionally about being a terminal brain cancer patient.

“I don’t want to die,” he said. “I love my life, my family, my work. I’ve so much more to do and to give.”

When we started work late last year on a book about his experience, Brainstorm, Scolyer did not expect to be around when it was published next month.

But he has relished having more time with his wife Katie and children Emily, Matthew and Lucy.

“I think I’m travelling pretty well,” he said. “The tough things are the emotional aspects of when your life has been turned upside down and you can’t do all the little things that you used to be able to do and enjoy.”

Scans every two months have shown the tumour has not come back so far.

So is his treatment working or do other factors, such as his genetics and luck, explain why he has stayed healthy?

“I hope it’s therapy related but the only way to really address that is through a clinical trial,” he says. “I know there are people working hard to try and make that happen.”

Brainstorm, by Richard Scolyer with Garry Maddox, is published by Allen & Unwin on November 1.

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