A doctor has shared an update one year after receiving a world-first treatment for his terminal brain cancer diagnosis.
Australian pathologist Richard Scolyer underwent an experimental cancer therapy built on his own melanoma research.
At 56, Professor Scolyer, a co-director of Melanoma Institute Australia, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumour.
According to The Brain Tumour Charity: “The average glioblastoma survival time is 12-18 months – only 25 percent of patients survive more than one year, and only five percent of patients survive more than five years.”
In his melanoma work, Scolyer and his team used a combination of immunotherapy to boost the immune system before surgically removing tumours.
Some patients were cured, but that strategy had never been tried for a type of brain cancer.
Scolyer volunteered to be ‘patient zero’ for a trial applying the approach to brain tumours.
He combined immunotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and a personalised vaccine, and has now revealed his one-year scan results.
Professor Richard Scolyer underwent a world-first experimental form of treatment for his brain tumor (X/ @ProfRScolyerMIA)
On 13 May he posted an update on his X account about his cancer journey.
The post included two photos: one of him lying down before an MRI, and another of him sitting up and smiling.
He wrote: “I had brain #MRI scan last Thursday looking for recurrent #glioblastoma (&/or treatment complications).”
“I found out yesterday that there is still no sign of recurrence.”
“[…] Thank you to the fabulous team looking after me so well especially my wife Katie & wonderful family!”
The one-year scan showed ‘no sign of recurrence’ (X/ @ProfRScolyerMIA)
He told the BBC he felt ‘more nervous’ about this one-year scan than any before it, but he is ‘just thrilled and delighted’ with the outcome.
Scolyer cautioned that the one-year result “certainly doesn’t mean that [his] brain cancer is cured”.
He added, “it’s just nice to know that it hasn’t come back yet”, giving him more time with his wife and kids.
“I couldn’t be happier.”