Ally Langdon has fought back tears as one of Australia’s most famous cancer researchers admitted that he has just months to live.
Former Australian of Professor Richard Scolyer, 58, revealed on A Current Affair on Monday night that his brain cancer has returned after an ‘aggressive’ tumour was discovered during surgery last week.
The 2024 Australian of the Year, 58, was diagnosed with an ‘incurable’ grade four brain cancer in June 2023.
His cancer, a glioblastoma, is often referred to as ‘the worst’ sort of cancer because of its aggressive nature, with most sufferers surviving less than a year after diagnosis.
Following a series of experimental therapies, the University of Sydney professor declared last May that he had been cancer-free for nearly 12 months.
He suffered a setback five months later when a MRI had shown an area of concern before undergoing surgery last Monday to ‘explore’ the changes in his brain, where his worst fears were realised.
Professor Scolyer broke down when an emotional Langdon asked whether it would be the last time they would sit down to chat.
‘I honestly don’t know,’ he admitted shaking his head.
Richard Scolyer (pictured with fellow 2024 Australian of the Year winner Georgina Long)
Ally Landgon fought back tears during her emotional interview with Professor Scolyer
‘It could be a few weeks, it could be a few months, it could be longer, I don’t know.’
‘I’m not ready to go yet. I love my life.
‘I’m still not ready to die.’
‘I guess I feel lucky that I’ve been able to go for so long without a recurrence of it.’
Further surgery and radiation is out of the question.
The only possible treatments left are drug therapies and the chances of them working isn’t high, based on previously published data.
‘There’s some treatment that’s being tested that could help but my heart’s not in the same place as what it was before,’ Professor Scolyer said.
Langdon wept: ‘It’s not fair is it?’
Richard Scolyer and Ally Langdon shed tears during what could be their final interview
Professor Scolyer replied: ‘Yeah, it’s not fair.
‘But I reckon that there’s a lesson for everyone.
‘You make the most of your life, your time. You just don’t know what’s what’s going to happen around the corner.’
Professor Scolyer became the world’s first brain cancer patient to have pre-surgery combination immunotherapy, which helps teach the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.
Professor Scolyer is focused on spending the time he has left with his wife Katie and their three children.
‘I feel lucky that I’ve been able to do that much more than I expected,’ he said.
He and his colleague Professor Georgina Long, who are co-directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia, were jointly awarded Australian of the Year in 2024 for their ground-breaking study into the skin cancer.
The University of Sydney professor underwent surgery last Monday, where an aggressive tumour was found on the brain
Professor Scolyer has widely shared his battle online to raise awareness of treatment options and progress being made on new methods.
After his initial brain scan Professor Scolyer said he knew its revelation of an area of light, cloudy matter in the top-right corner of his skull was concerning.
The discovery spurred him to consider whether his research into melanoma might be relevant to treating his own brain cancer.
‘It didn’t sit right with me, to just accept certain death without trying something. It’s an incurable cancer? Well bugger that!’
