Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer reveals heartbreaking update on cancer progression

Former Australian of the Year and world-leading pathologist Professor Richard Scolyer has shared an uplifting message that this is “not the end of the road” as he announces a heartbreaking update on his battle with brain cancer.

On Tuesday night, Professor Richard Scolyer used his Facebook blog, My Uncertain Path, to share some challenging news with friends and fans.

There, he wrote that after another brain scan, “my brain tumor (glioblastoma) appears to have progressed further, affecting brain function (as I and a few close friends can feel/see).”

The beloved professor, who was awarded the Australian of the Year award in 2024 with his research partner and Melanoma Institute Australia co-director Georgina Long, was first diagnosed with an aggressive tumor in 2023.

He was given just eight months to live, but was one of the first patients to undergo experimental treatment for his “incurable” cancer – a fast-growing and highly aggressive cancer of the brain or spinal cord that “basically no one can cure”.

In February last year, he announced that the cancer had returned and in March he underwent experimental surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible; but some of the mass remained.

Professor Scolyer became the first brain cancer patient in the world to combine pre-operative immunotherapy with the hope of understanding brain cancer.

Despite her heartbreaking health journey, Professor Scolyer said she was always one to shy away from challenges as she shared inspirational photos of herself hugging and smiling in hospital.

“While it’s a bit disappointing, it’s not the end of the road in the big picture and I’ve got a lot of work to do! I’m definitely not stopping yet.” the 59-year-old wrote.

“I hope I can share more special time with my family and friends and continue to advocate for cancer patients.”