'Could be months, could be less': Professor Richard Scolyer says he's not sure how long he has left to liveBy George FreemanABC News BreakfastTopic:Cancer3m ago3 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:27amLoading...In short:Professor Richard Scolyer says he may only have a few months to live after revealing his brain cancer had returned earlier this year.His book, Brainstorm, has won the Social Impact Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards.What's next?Professor Scolyer says he hopes the book can promote discussions about brain cancer.abc.net.au/news/richard-scolyer-cancer-update-health-book-awards-brainstorm/105268774Link copiedShareShare articleRichard Scolyer, the world-renowned pathologist and former Australian of the Year, says he may only have a few months to live after his brain cancer returned earlier this year.Professor Scolyer, 58, was first diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma in 2023 and was given just six to eight months. But his team's revolutionary and experimental immunotherapy treatment managed to keep the cancer at bay for almost two years with no recurrence.The treatment was based on his own research and then developed by Melanoma Institute co-director Georgina Long. It used the same immune therapies the pair had pioneered for melanoma and initially showed promising results.Richard Scolyer after a complex surgery in March 2025, which unfortunately showed his brain cancer had returned. (Supplied: Instagram/@profrscolyer)Professors Scolyer and Long were jointly named Australian of the Year in 2024 for their work.However, Professor Scolyer revealed in March of this year that after undergoing scans, he had received the heartbreaking news that his brain cancer had come back.He told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday he's not sure how much time he has left."I'm still here and still able to chat to you so I'm pretty pleased about that," he said. "Who knows how long I've got. Could be months, could be less."Professor Scolyer says he's focused on spending the time he has left doing the things he loves most."I love my life. I love the interactions I have with so many people."I guess in reality, I have focused down on the things that I like doing. Spending more time with my family is number one, but also contributing to society. It's something I've done for a long, long time.Richard Scolyer's treatment defied expectations by keeping his brain cancer at bay for 22 months. (Twitter: @ProfRAScolyer)"I've been a specialist for more than 25 years now. So a lot of things that I've done I don't want to give up just like that."His book, Brainstorm, won the Social Impact Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards in Melbourne on Wednesday night. Co-written with Garry Maddox, the book explores Professor Scolyer's extraordinary journey through brain cancer treatment.He told News Breakfast he was "delighted" to be recognised."But ultimately, we're trying to make a difference for brain cancer patients. I hope that's where it ends up."Professor Scolyer says he had more fun than he'd expected writing the book, calling it a "great journey".Richard Scolyer at the Australian Book Industry Awards on Wednesday night. (Supplied)"I thought initially it might be just about the tough journey, but when I was approached about doing this, you get to talk about whole aspects of life and it's a lot of fun reminiscing on things, particularly when you're younger, the fun that you have."He says he hopes the book will help make a difference with discussions around brain cancer."When you think about it, brain cancer treatment for the sort I've had, basically no-one is cured from it. And that doesn't sit with me right."Melanoma, if it had spread around your body, what we call stage 4 melanoma, everyone died about 15 years ago. Now we're curing close to 60 per cent of such patients."There are a lot of reasons why it's harder to treat brain cancer than melanoma, but to use some of the learnings that we've made at an earlier phase gives us a better chance."Now facing his own mortality, Professor Scolyer advice to people is to enjoy life as much as possible."Be passionate about it, enjoy hanging out with the people that you love. Yeah, enjoy it."Professor Scolyer's book, Brainstorm, was published in October 2024.Posted 3m ago3 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:27amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesTwo men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyBREAKINGPhoto shows Cassius Turvey Forever 15'Children at the grown-ups' table': Liberal insiders reveal a catastrophic campaignTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Backlit photo of a Dutton press conference, his silhouette centred in front of a microphone'Cooperative' Erin Patterson helped police find beef Wellington leftovers in bin, court hears LIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtAustralia's best sports rights in the hands of a Soviet-born, former oil tycoonTopic:Media IndustryMacquarie Bank's dodgy trading may be 'tip of the iceberg' for industryTopic:BankingPhoto shows The exterior of a Macquarie Bank building, fit with the company's white circular ring logoPopular nowGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes Melbourne after 15-year careerLIVEPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopTwo men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyTopic:HomicidePhoto shows Cassius Turvey Forever 15'Cooperative' Erin Patterson helped police find beef Wellington leftovers in bin, court hears LIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtRelated topicsArts, Culture and EntertainmentAustraliaCancerMedical ResearchTop StoriesBreaking: Two men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyTopic:HomicidePhoto shows Cassius Turvey Forever 15'Children at the grown-ups' table': Liberal insiders reveal a catastrophic campaignTopic:Elections'Cooperative' Erin Patterson helped police find beef Wellington leftovers in bin, court hears Topic:Law, Crime and JusticeAustralia's best sports rights in the hands of a Soviet-born, former oil tycoonTopic:Media IndustryMacquarie Bank's dodgy trading may be 'tip of the iceberg' for industryTopic:BankingJust InPremier's 'not a red cent more' claim re Hobart stadium funding under fireTopic:Explainer5m ago5 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:25amOld schoolhouse restoration transforms piece of history in Adelaide HillsTopic:History22m ago22 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:08amTruckies call for industry reform to attract more young drivers Topic:Road Transport Industry30m ago30 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:00amCounting for seat of Bean likely to drag on for days as AEC turns to postal votesTopic:Elections30m ago30 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:00amMore Just InBack to top