'Worried': Australian of the year gives update in battle with brain cancer

Former Australian of the Year and pathologist Professor Richard Scolyer has given a health update in his battle with brain cancer.

Scolyer, aged 58, was diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma in 2023 and was given just eight months to live.

Scolyer and co-director of the Melanoma Institute, Georgina Long, used an experimental immunotherapy treatment for his glioblastoma and managed to keep it at bay for two years.

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However, after undergoing scans in February, Scolyer revealed his brain cancer had returned.

He underwent surgery in March to remove as much of the tumour as possible.

The doctor provided a health update to his Instagram yesterday, saying he was "a bit worried" after undergoing another scan.

"I've had some different types of therapy to try and mop up what's left behind, trying to get rid of more of the tumour," he said in the video. 

"The problem with it is...there are little tentacles that go off at the periphery, so we've got to find a type of therapy that can mop up and cure those leftover wretched tumour cells that are there

"So, trying some different therapies, seeing if they'll work, and then depending on what their scan shows, I guess that'll help choose what the next forms of therapy that I can have.

The former Australian of the year said he was feeling "a bit up and down" after the scan.

"It's a tough journey at times, but other times I'm super happy," he said.

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"Fingers crossed this operation won't be too bad, and we can move forward with the next form of therapy and hopefully push things along faster to try and get things opened up for many, many patients who've got glioblastoma."

Scolyer and Long were both awarded the Australian of the Year award in 2024 for their work in brain cancer research.