The wife of Professor Richard Scolyer, who was once named Australian of the Year and is a world-leading pathologist, said daily life is “getting harder and harder” as he continues to battle brain cancer.

Professor Scolyer’s wife, Dr. Katie Nicholl, posted a message and several photos on social media, updating him on his fight against the disease.

“Things are getting harder and harder for Rich, and time with family and friends remains very important to all of us,” she said.

“I know we are not alone on this journey and we appreciate everyone’s continued love and support.”

Their daughter, Emily, remarked, “Mom and Dad are so strong!”

The doctor revealed previously untold details about Dr. Richard Scolyer’s extraordinary battle against cancer.

The post included photos of Professor Scolyer with his wife, one of them gazing lovingly at each other.

The esteemed professor, along with his research partner and co-director of the Australian Melanoma Institute, Georgina Long, received the Australian of the Year award in 2024.

He was diagnosed with melanoma in 2023 and initially given only eight months to live.

He was one of the first patients to receive experimental treatment for his “incurable” cancer – a fast-growing and extremely aggressive form of cancer.

Professor Scolyer became the first brain cancer patient in the world to receive combined immunotherapy before surgery in the hope of better understanding brain cancer.

He shared his battle with cancer through his blog, “My Uncertain Path.”

In an update post in March, he said: “It seems my brain tumor (glioblastoma) is progressing further, affecting brain function… While somewhat disappointing, overall it’s not the end and I have a lot more to do!”

“I love and enjoy challenges. I’m definitely not stopping yet.”

Richard Scolyer dies after battling the “worst” form of brain cancer | Australian Story

Scolyer was the first in the world to receive immunotherapy before having a brain tumour removed, an approach based on melanoma science that he and colleagues, including his co-director at the Melanoma Institute of Australia, Georgina Long, had researched and developed.

It was radical and risky. No-one knew exactly what would happen, but Scolyer would live for years despite a prognosis of months.

Scolyer himself called the decision to undergo the non-proven treatment a “no-brainer” for someone facing certain death.

In an interview for an upcoming Australian Story episode, Scolyer explained that while he was terminal, he was determined to keep contributing the best he could.

“I love my family, love my kids, my friends, people I work with. I don’t think many people would accept it [terminal cancer] until you get to a period where your life’s miserable and you can’t contribute in the same way,” Scolyer said.

“Until you get to that stage, you want to be here enjoying life and trying to make a difference, and that’s what I’ve been doing.

“Enjoy your life. Contribute to the things you’re passionate about. Don’t just lean in, leap in. That’s how you can make a difference.”

‘Wonderful memories’ of a Tasmanian upbringing

Throughout his treatment, Scolyer kept his friends and the public abreast of his progress, posting wins and losses on social media as a legion of supporters worldwide showed their love.

“The reason I went public initially was to raise the profile of the disease, but when it clicked with social media, there was very kind support that people in the community were sending me. I’m very touched. So, thank you, Australia and the many people around the world who’ve got behind me,” Scolyer told Australian Story recently.

In addition to raising awareness, social media was also a chance to tell his own story and share the lessons he had learnt throughout his life.

Born in December 1966, Scolyer grew up in Launceston, Tasmania. He had a happy childhood playing footy, swimming, and riding bikes on caravanning holidays with his parents, Jenny and Maurice, and older brother, Mark.

The power of research

Scolyer studied medicine at the University of Tasmania before moving to Sydney, where he pursued his interest in melanoma.

Passionate about “the power of research”, he said he wanted to “change the face of medicine and cancer treatment”.

He helped develop the Melanoma Institute of Australia, where he met Long, a medical oncologist, in 2009.

As co-directors, they helped revolutionise the treatment of the deadly skin cancer by using combination immunotherapy before removing the melanoma itself.

“With immunotherapy, we stimulate the immune system in a very specific way so that the immune system can see the enemy, that’s the cancer, and kill it,” Long told the ABC.

Fifteen years ago, patients with melanoma that had spread through the body had a less than 5 per cent five-year survival rate.

The pioneering work has increased that rate to 55 per cent. The results were phenomenal: Some patients were cured.

Such an approach had never been tried on brain cancer patients before. Until Scolyer agreed to become the “guinea pig”.