‘I'm not giving up now': Richard Scolyer defies cancer to run City2Surf
In a cruel coincidence, he was not only a friend and colleague of O'Brien, the late head and neck surgeon who became nationally known from the TV series RPA, but he was diagnosed with the same lethal brain tumour.
O'Brien died in 2009; despite 75 per cent of patients dying within 12 months, Scolyer has lasted 26 months so far.
But he is not sure whether this is because of the world-first treatment he has tried in the hope of revolutionising brain cancer treatment – a combination of three immunotherapy drugs before surgery to 'debulk' the tumour and a personalised cancer vaccine – or whether it's down to genetics or other factors.
'I guess I have some hope [the treatment has worked] based on the fact I'm still here and what our scientific data has shown, but ultimately you need a clinical trial,' he says.
When he learnt the tumour had returned and that he might only have weeks to live, Scolyer set some goals. He decided he would live as full a life as possible, relish the time he had left with his family and friends, and reach his 250th Parkrun.
Such is his popularity for his honesty and humility since starting cancer treatment, it was national news when Scolyer made it, crossing the finish line in Sydney's inner west to applause from more than 500 runners and well-wishers.
When he has felt well enough, Scolyer has kept running and occasionally cycling since then.
After his 258th Parkrun on Saturday, he plans to back up 24 hours later for the City2Surf.
While he struggled for a long time with the knowledge his tumour is incurable, Scolyer now seems more accepting – bar that miracle – that it will inevitably kill him.
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How long does he think he can keep going?
'I don't know,' he says. 'Forever I wish. I hope I'm here 'til the end of the school holidays over summer. That would be great.'
A long-time triathlete outside his former roles as co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia and senior staff specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Scolyer has run the City2Surf 'four or five' times.
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4 days ago
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Robyn Smith to run bare-chested in Sydney's City2Surf after double mastectomy
Robyn Smith believes there is nothing wrong with "living flat", and plans to make the message clear at the City2Surf. The 46-year-old has decided to run bare chested, displaying the scars of her double mastectomy to break the stigma around choosing not to get breast reconstruction, and live without breasts. "So about six years ago I had a risk-reducing mastectomy and yeah, now I live flat," she said. Ms Smith said she was inspired by United Kingdom advocate Louise Butcher, who ran the London Marathon twice to bare her mastectomy scars and represent thousands of women globally "living flat" without breasts. She will be among 90,000 runners in this year's sold-out fun run, which will once again go from Sydney's CBD to Bondi Beach — the same route that's been in place for 55 years. The six-time City2Surf runner is raising funds for charity Inherited Cancers Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support for people who have a strong family history of cancer. She realised she could either watch and wait to see if she developed the disease, or have surgery to remove her breasts and drastically reduce her risk. In 2012, after her mother was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she had genetic testing and discovered she carried the gene mutation known as BCRA2, which dramatically increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Shortly after, she had her breasts removed. She believes her mother saved her. "I'm able to manage my cancer risk. She's saved my life, and unfortunately she died because she didn't get the knowledge that I am privileged to have," she said. Ms Smith has also had her fallopian tubes and ovaries removed for the same reason. Painted across her scars will be the words "flat out of funding" which she said is about the critical shortage in donations that is impacting services being offered by Inherited Cancers Australia. "You know the demand of genetic testing is just continuing to go through the roof." Both her mother and grandmother have died from the disease. Her uncle lived with prostate cancer, and most recently her 36-year-old cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer. Last year's joint Australian of the Year and world renowned pathologist Richard Scolyer, who is in the midst of his own cancer battle, will also be taking part in the event along with his family. In March he announced that after a period of remission his terminal brain cancer, diagnosed in 2023, was back and he only had three months to live. It's past that deadline, and since then he achieved another milestone in June when he clocked his 250th ParkRun. Speaking to ABC Radio National on Saturday, Professor Scolyer said he was making the most of his time, and it was down to "luck" that he was still here. "I'm absolutely delighted to still be here, it's normal that 75 per cent will be dead within a year," he said. Professor Scolyers's first City2Surf was 21 years ago. He took part with his wife and first-born daughter Emily, who was just months old and in a pram. "I remember one time actually she had a number two, and we had to pull over to change her nappy and that slowed us up. "And the back ambulance that follows the people went past us, so we had to run to catch up." He is raising money for the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, the institute that honours the late pioneering cancer specialist and surgeon who died from a brain tumour in 2009. It's also where Professor Scolyer worked and where he now receives treatment. "I felt very honoured to work with him [Chris O'Brien] and to learn from him and become a friend." He said he was excited to be taking part in this year's run, and because of his love of exercising he doesn't think the race will be that tough. "It's going to be amazing to be with that many people, I can't wait to go down there especially with my wife hand-in-hand — it will be terrific," he told Nine radio on Friday. 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"I'm going to be going for exposure rather than speed, so it'll just be getting amongst and talking to as many people as I can about the cause and really raising awareness." The race will begin at 7.35am, with the final runners expected to reach the finish line by 2pm.
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'm not giving up now': Richard Scolyer defies cancer to run City2Surf
Scolyer wants to raise $100,000 for Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, one of the centres where he has received treatment since being diagnosed with a glioblastoma in mid 2023. In a cruel coincidence, he was not only a friend and colleague of O'Brien, the late head and neck surgeon who became nationally known from the TV series RPA, but he was diagnosed with the same lethal brain tumour. O'Brien died in 2009; despite 75 per cent of patients dying within 12 months, Scolyer has lasted 26 months so far. But he is not sure whether this is because of the world-first treatment he has tried in the hope of revolutionising brain cancer treatment – a combination of three immunotherapy drugs before surgery to 'debulk' the tumour and a personalised cancer vaccine – or whether it's down to genetics or other factors. 'I guess I have some hope [the treatment has worked] based on the fact I'm still here and what our scientific data has shown, but ultimately you need a clinical trial,' he says. When he learnt the tumour had returned and that he might only have weeks to live, Scolyer set some goals. He decided he would live as full a life as possible, relish the time he had left with his family and friends, and reach his 250th Parkrun. Such is his popularity for his honesty and humility since starting cancer treatment, it was national news when Scolyer made it, crossing the finish line in Sydney's inner west to applause from more than 500 runners and well-wishers. When he has felt well enough, Scolyer has kept running and occasionally cycling since then. After his 258th Parkrun on Saturday, he plans to back up 24 hours later for the City2Surf. While he struggled for a long time with the knowledge his tumour is incurable, Scolyer now seems more accepting – bar that miracle – that it will inevitably kill him. Loading How long does he think he can keep going? 'I don't know,' he says. 'Forever I wish. I hope I'm here 'til the end of the school holidays over summer. That would be great.' A long-time triathlete outside his former roles as co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia and senior staff specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Scolyer has run the City2Surf 'four or five' times.
The Age
5 days ago
- The Age
‘I'm not giving up now': Richard Scolyer defies cancer to run City2Surf
Scolyer wants to raise $100,000 for Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, one of the centres where he has received treatment since being diagnosed with a glioblastoma in mid 2023. In a cruel coincidence, he was not only a friend and colleague of O'Brien, the late head and neck surgeon who became nationally known from the TV series RPA, but he was diagnosed with the same lethal brain tumour. O'Brien died in 2009; despite 75 per cent of patients dying within 12 months, Scolyer has lasted 26 months so far. But he is not sure whether this is because of the world-first treatment he has tried in the hope of revolutionising brain cancer treatment – a combination of three immunotherapy drugs before surgery to 'debulk' the tumour and a personalised cancer vaccine – or whether it's down to genetics or other factors. 'I guess I have some hope [the treatment has worked] based on the fact I'm still here and what our scientific data has shown, but ultimately you need a clinical trial,' he says. When he learnt the tumour had returned and that he might only have weeks to live, Scolyer set some goals. He decided he would live as full a life as possible, relish the time he had left with his family and friends, and reach his 250th Parkrun. Such is his popularity for his honesty and humility since starting cancer treatment, it was national news when Scolyer made it, crossing the finish line in Sydney's inner west to applause from more than 500 runners and well-wishers. When he has felt well enough, Scolyer has kept running and occasionally cycling since then. After his 258th Parkrun on Saturday, he plans to back up 24 hours later for the City2Surf. While he struggled for a long time with the knowledge his tumour is incurable, Scolyer now seems more accepting – bar that miracle – that it will inevitably kill him. Loading How long does he think he can keep going? 'I don't know,' he says. 'Forever I wish. I hope I'm here 'til the end of the school holidays over summer. That would be great.' A long-time triathlete outside his former roles as co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia and senior staff specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Scolyer has run the City2Surf 'four or five' times.
