Former Australian of the Year shares update on his cancer battle
The globally-renowned pathologist was diagnosed with 'incurable' brain cancer in June 2023 and has been sharing his journey with Australians ever since.
Dr Scolyer shared a photo of him undergoing an MRI to Facebook on Friday, writing he had recently experienced some 'tough times' but was recuperating.
'It sure is amazing to be back out there participating and enjoying life,' he said.
'A month or so ago, I had some tough times with recurrent brain tumour and additional challenged. These were associated with swelling of my brain which can cause changes in how I am functioning.
'However, now I am feeling much better and loving spending time with my wonderful family and friends.'
The post was quickly flooded with well-wishes from supporters.
'You are such an inspiration to us all and enjoy the time with your beautiful family,' on person commented.
'You're a true fighter and so incredibly honest with your journey. We're all cheering you on Dr, you're an inspiration,' a second wrote.
'Love your outlook on life, whatever it may be, keep family and friends close to your heart,' a third said.
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The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
Rare ‘brain-eating amoeba' detected in drinking water supplies in Australia
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It only lives in warm freshwater, generally between 25 and 40°C. This can include ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and hot springs. If someone is infected with N. fowleri, it causes what's called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a serious infection of the brain. Symptoms include a sore throat, headache, hallucinations, confusion, vomiting, fever, neck stiffness, changes to taste and smell, and seizures. The incubation period of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis – the time between infection and symptoms appearing – typically ranges from three to seven days. Tragically, this illness is nearly always fatal, even if someone receives medical attention quickly. Death typically occurs about five days after symptoms begin. Fortunately, though, cases are very rare. In the United States, there were 167 reported cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis between 1962 and 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only four survived. A global review of the disease up to 2018 reported that, of 381 known cases, Australia accounted for 22, the fifth highest number, after the US, Pakistan, Mexico and India. Some 92% of people died. So how does someone get infected? The route of infection is very unusual and quite specific. N. fowleri infects the brain through a person's nose. The amoeba then passes through a protective membrane called the nasal epithelium. This is an important physical barrier and allows the amoeba to travel to the brain through the olfactory nerve, which is responsible for our sense of smell. The infection then kills brain tissue and causes swelling of the brain, termed cerebral oedema. Infections occur in people when infected water travels up their nose. Most cases involve children and young people who have swum in infected waters. The majority of cases occur in males, with an average age of 14. Even water sports in affected waterways can be dangerous. A person is currently in intensive care in Missouri after it's believed they became infected while water skiing. Regarding the recent detection in Queensland water supply systems, the source of the infection has not been reported. It's possible a fresh waterway, or groundwater, which feeds into the affected drinking water systems, was contaminated with N. fowleri, and the amoeba travelled from there. But this will likely be determined with further investigation. How dangerous is N. fowleri in drinking water? First, it's important to note you can't get primary amoebic meningoencephalitis from drinking contaminated water. But any activity that allows infected water to enter a person's nose is potentially dangerous. This can happen during a bath or a shower. Some people flush their nasal passages to clear congestion related to allergies or a viral infection. This has been linked to infections with N. fowleri. If you're going to flush your nasal passages, you should use a sterile saline solution. Even young children playing with hoses, sprinklers or water activities could be at risk. A 16-month-old child was fatally infected following an incident involving a contaminated water 'splash pad' in the US in 2023. Splash pads are water-based recreation activities, primarily for young children, that involve splashing or spraying water. So what's the risk in Queensland? Regarding N. fowleri, Australian drinking water guidelines advise: If the organism is detected, advice should be sought from the relevant health authority or drinking water regulator. The guidelines also provide recommendations on how to disinfect water supplies and control N. fowleri, using chlorine and other chemical compounds. All public town water supplies across Australia are regularly tested to ensure that the water is safe to drink. 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Sky News
14 hours ago
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