- Advertisement -

This week on ABC’s AUSTRALIAN STORY: An Open Mind

- Advertisement -

Latest

- Advertisement -

Share

This week on ABC’s Australian Story, Leigh Sales presents ‘An Open Mind’ featuring Prof Richard Scolyer.

It is risky and untested treatment. It could shorten his life or make it a whole lot worse. But it’s a risk Professor Richard Scolyer is willing to take, desperate to try and save his own life.  

Professor Richard Scolyer (Image - ABC)
Professor Richard Scolyer (Image – ABC)

As the world’s top melanoma pathologist, Richard is an expert in diagnosing skin cancers, and helped revolutionise immunotherapy treatment for advanced melanoma patients, removing the death sentence so many once faced. 

- Advertisement -


But now the acclaimed doctor is facing his own mortality.  

A seizure six months ago led to a diagnosis of an incurable brain cancer. The prognosis averages 12-18 months. 

Richard had a choice, prepare for the worst or put his hand up to be patient zero as his colleagues design a high stakes experiment to fight his brain tumour, using the very treatment they have pioneered for melanoma. 

“Some of my close colleagues were saying ‘don’t be Richard’s medical oncologist, be his friend’. And I’m thinking stuff that, I’m not using 15 years of my bloody hard work, like hard, long hours of work not to apply it to my friend. What are the rules here?” medical oncologist Professor Georgina Long says.  

“All the results we have so far are positive. I have to be honest, I am hoping that we could cure him. I know it’s unlikely, I’m a realist, but I also know that these drugs are phenomenal,” cancer researcher Professor Helen Rizos says. 

Australian Story goes behind the scenes with Richard and his colleagues as they race against the clock to cure the incurable. While the team hope for a medical miracle, the research they are conducting on Richard will hopefully trigger drug trials and a lasting legacy for future patients.  

- Advertisement -


“I’m more than happy to be the guinea pig to, to do this,” says Richard. “In fact, I see it as an opportunity to hopefully make my life better and blow open that brain cancer field to transform it for all brain cancer patients.”

AUSTRALIAN STORY: An Open Mind – Professor Richard Scolyer premieres Monday, 4 December, 8pm on ABC TV and ABC iview

- Advertisement -


Know more about this or another Australian media story?

Call/Text 0428 275 111 or use the contact button below.

Samantha Kirkley
Samantha Kirkley
Samantha Kirkley is a Melbourne based writer and taking over the internet one blog post at a time.
Comments

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.

Join or social media

- Advertisement -

Latest Stories

Advertisement