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.
Richard Scolyer, Katie Nicoll and their dog Cha Cha out for a run ahead of the City2Surf.Credit: Wolter Peeters
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.
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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.
He reckons he has broken the impressive time of 60 minutes twice.
So how competitive will he be on Sunday?
“I’ll be competing to have the most fun,” he says. “Race time will not matter.”
Garry Maddox wrote Brainstorm with Richard Scolyer.
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