Latest news with #MelanomaInstituteAustralia
Sydney Morning Herald
09-08-2025
- Health
- 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
09-08-2025
- Health
- 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.
The Age
14-06-2025
- Health
- The Age
Defying expectations, inspiring Richard Scolyer reaches another goal
For former Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer, every step on Saturday mornings has been a victory of late. The world renowned pathologist and former co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia was devastated when an operation in March confirmed that his incurable brain tumour had returned. But amid concerns he might have only weeks to live, he set some goals. Scolyer decided he would live as full a life as possible and relish the time he had left with his family – wife Katie and children Emily, Matthew and Lucy – and friends. An enthusiastic triathlete, he also set a sporting goal: reaching his 250th Parkrun, the five-kilometre community event that attracts runners and walkers in 23 countries each Saturday morning. Loading Scolyer was so committed that, five days after the operation, he walked the Greenway Parkrun at Haberfield in Sydney's inner west, stopping exhausted and only able to finish after being brought something to eat. Even during low weeks, when he says it felt like a fog had descended inside his head, he pressed on. Sometimes walking, other times running. And on Saturday morning, more than 14 weeks after the operation and in June's chilly Sydney temperatures, Scolyer made it. A larger than usual crowd of more than 500 runners, swelled by well-wishers, journalists, photographers and TV crews, cheered Scolyer and Katie down the finishing chute for Parkrun number 250 at Haberfield.
Sydney Morning Herald
14-06-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Defying expectations, inspiring Richard Scolyer reaches another goal
For former Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer, every step on Saturday mornings has been a victory of late. The world renowned pathologist and former co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia was devastated when an operation in March confirmed that his incurable brain tumour had returned. But amid concerns he might have only weeks to live, he set some goals. Scolyer decided he would live as full a life as possible and relish the time he had left with his family – wife Katie and children Emily, Matthew and Lucy – and friends. An enthusiastic triathlete, he also set a sporting goal: reaching his 250th Parkrun, the five-kilometre community event that attracts runners and walkers in 23 countries each Saturday morning. Loading Scolyer was so committed that, five days after the operation, he walked the Greenway Parkrun at Haberfield in Sydney's inner west, stopping exhausted and only able to finish after being brought something to eat. Even during low weeks, when he says it felt like a fog had descended inside his head, he pressed on. Sometimes walking, other times running. And on Saturday morning, more than 14 weeks after the operation and in June's chilly Sydney temperatures, Scolyer made it. A larger than usual crowd of more than 500 runners, swelled by well-wishers, journalists, photographers and TV crews, cheered Scolyer and Katie down the finishing chute for Parkrun number 250 at Haberfield.
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Eminent pathologist Richard Scolyer reveals heartbreaking cancer update months after experimental immunotherapy
Acclaimed melanoma expert and former Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer has shared a heartbreaking update on his battle with brain cancer – revealing the disease is advancing again. Professor Scolyer, 58, was diagnosed with the aggressive and incurable glioblastoma in 2023 and initially given just eight months to live. However, after undergoing experimental immunotherapy based on melanoma research, his cancer remained at bay for 18 months. In a social media post on Monday, Professor Scolyer confirmed a recent MRI scan had shown further progression of the tumour on the left side of his brain. 'While this may not be the best direction to be heading with my changes, amazingly (to me), I still seem keen to keep living, loving and having fun, whenever possible,' he wrote on social media. Acclaimed melanoma expert and former Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer, 58, has shared a heartbreaking update that his cancer has advanced once more. X /@ProfRAScolyer 'I feel like there are quite a few people on my team (including my family & friends) and they make me happy and proud.' The prominent cancer researcher, jointly named Australian of the Year in 2024 alongside fellow Melanoma Institute Australia co-director Professor Georgina Long, has remained remarkably candid and optimistic throughout his treatment journey. In February, Professor Scolyer announced the cancer had returned, prompting him to undergo surgery in March to remove as much of the tumour as possible. He later explained that while the procedure successfully removed a significant portion of the mass, 'little tentacles' remained and would require additional treatment to 'mop up' the remaining cancer cells. 'Depending on what the scan shows … that will help choose what are the next forms of therapy that I can have to see where we need to go from here,' he said at the time. Scolyer was diagnosed with incurable glioblastoma in 2023 and initially given just eight months to live but under experimental immunotherapy, his cancer remained at bay for 18 months. X /@ProfRAScolyer He also acknowledged the emotional and physical toll of ongoing treatment, admitting he had been feeling 'a little up and down' due to side effects, though he continued to cherish time spent with his wife Katie and their children. 'Sometimes I'm happy to have fun, but some of the therapies have knocked me around a bit, so I can't do some of the things I love doing,' he said. 'I'm still having a fun time at home with my kids, they've been very kind, as well as my beautiful wife Katie has, who's been using her incredible intellect to help me speak to different doctors about various options that are available.' Professor Scolyer said he expects to undergo another operation and remains hopeful about future treatments. 'Fingers crossed this operation isn't so bad and we can move forward with the next form of therapy and hopefully push things along faster to try and get things open up for many, many patients who have got glioblastoma,' he said.
