Professor Richard Scolyer’s incurable stage 4 glioblastoma diagnosis was revealed in June 2023
An Australian doctor remains brain cancer-free a year after undergoing a world-first treatment based on his own research.
Professor Richard Scolyer, 57, used his own pioneering studies on melanoma to treat his incurable stage 4 glioblastoma following his diagnosis in June 2023.
On Monday, May 13, he shared an update about the experimental treatment on X (formerly known as Twitter) alongside two images from a recent MRI scan.
“I had brain #MRI scan last Thursday looking for recurrent #glioblastoma (&/or treatment complications). I found out yesterday that there is still no sign of recurrence. I couldn’t be happier!!!!!,” wrote Scolyer.
“Thank you to the fabulous team looking after me so well especially my wife Katie & wonderful family!” he added.
Scolyer’s diagnosis was revealed in June 2023 after he was taken ill while traveling for work in Poland. He then became the first brain cancer patient to undergo pre-surgery combination immunotherapy.
Per the Cancer Research Institute, cancer immunotherapy “is a form of cancer treatment that uses the power of the body’s own immune system to prevent, control, and eliminate cancer.”
The pathologist — who was named the 2024 Australian of the Year alongside his Melanoma Institute Australia co-medical director Georgina Long over their life-saving research — told the BBC, “To be honest, I was more nervous than I have been for any previous scan.”
“I’m just thrilled and delighted… couldn’t be happier,” he added to the outlet.
“By undertaking an experimental treatment with risk of shortening his life, he has advanced the understanding of brain cancer and is benefiting future patients,” the University of Sydney said as it named Scolyer and Long the Australians of the Year, per Sky News.
After having a difficult couple of months of treatment toward the start of the year, suffering from epileptic seizures, liver issues and pneumonia, Scolyer is now feeling “the best” he’s “felt for yonks,” he told the BBC.
The doctor is back to exercising daily, and regularly does 15km runs. “It certainly doesn’t mean that my brain cancer is cured… but it’s just nice to know that it hasn’t come back yet, so I’ve still got some more time to enjoy my life with my wife Katie and my three wonderful kids,” he told the outlet.
His research partner Long insisted they’re “not there yet” when it comes to developing an approved and regulated course of treatment. “We’ve generated a whole heap of data, to then make a foundation for that next step, so that we can help more people,” she said, per the BBC.
“What we have to really focus on is showing that this pre-surgery, combination immunotherapy type of approach works in a large number of people,” Long added.
The Melanoma Institute Australia didn’t immediately respond to PEOPLE when approached for comment.
