Professor Richard Scolyer Brain Cancer Returns: Given Three Months to Live
Professor Richard Scolyer, an Australian of the Year and a leading melanoma expert, said that his brain cancer has come back and doctors have given him only three months to live.
In a tearful conversation with A Current Affair, Scolyer talked about his terrible news. He said that a “aggressive” cancer was found in his brain during surgery last Monday.
“I feel sad,” he admitted. “I’m not ready to go yet. I love my life. But I feel lucky that I’ve been able to go for so long without a recurrence.”
A Pioneering Fight Against Glioblastoma
Unfortunately there is a larger volume of quickly growing brain cancer (glioblastoma, IDH WT, unmethylated etc) in my left brain. The prognosis is poor.
Whilst some of my recurrent tumour was removed last week, some of it couldn’t be because of its site.
While the neoadjuvant… pic.twitter.com/eNOsyraBsG
— Professor Richard Scolyer AO (@ProfRAScolyer) March 10, 2025
In July 2023, Scolyer was first told that he had GBM, the most deadly type of brain cancer, and was given only six to nine months to live. Instead of taking his diagnosis, he did something new by using the study on melanoma to treat his brain cancer.
Alongside his colleague and close friend, Professor Georgina Long, Scolyer became the world’s first patient to undergo pre-surgery combined immunotherapy and a personalized cancer vaccine. The gamble paid off—by November 2023, he was declared cancer-free, defying all expectations.
During that time, Scolyer made significant contributions to medical science, co-authored a book, met King Charles, and was honoured as joint Australian of the Year alongside Long.
Heartbreaking Setback
After recent scans showed concerning changes in his brain, Scolyer underwent surgery last week. The results confirmed his worst fears—his cancer had returned. While some drug therapies could potentially extend his life, the chances of success are low.
“It could help, but my heart’s not in the same place as before,” he shared, now focusing on spending precious time with his wife, Katie, and their three children, Emily, Matthew, and Lucy.
“It’s not fair, but there’s a lesson for everyone: make the most of every day because you don’t know what’s around the corner.”
A Legacy That Could Change Cancer Treatment
The reason Richard Scolyerr lived longer is still not clear. It could have been luck, or it could have been the experimental treatment he got. But his breakthrough work has already changed medical research in a big way.
Late this year, there are plans for a clinical study to be held in Australia and the US to try the immunotherapy treatment on a larger group of patients. Brain cancer researchers are hopeful that this could be the big step forward they’ve been looking for decades.
“This is something worth pursuing more aggressively to prove whether or not it works,” he said. “I’m proud to have been part of this and to have contributed to something that could help future patients.”
Even though Professor Richard Scolyer brain cancer battle is going through his toughest battle yet, his bravery and research achievements will continue to inspire people and help the fight against brain cancer for a long time to come.
