An Australian Doctor’s Remarkable Recovery from Terminal Brain Tumor
Nicholas McEntyre
Published May 15, 2024, 2:05 a.m. ET
An Australian doctor, Richard Scolyer, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor last year, but is now cancer-free thanks to a revolutionary treatment he helped develop.
Scolyer, a professor at the University of Sydney, shared his incredible journey of overcoming stage 4 glioblastoma, a usually incurable form of brain cancer. Despite the challenging prognosis, he recently received news that the tumor has not recurred.
In collaboration with his colleague, Georgina Long, the duo’s innovative approach to immunotherapy research at the Melanoma Institute led to groundbreaking results. Their work significantly improved outcomes for melanoma patients, earning them the prestigious title of 2024 NSW Australian of the Year.
Scolyer’s personalized treatment plan involved a combination of drugs, including a tailored vaccine specific to his tumor. Despite initial complications, including seizures and pneumonia, his resilience and dedication to his treatment led to remarkable progress.
While Scolyer acknowledges that his battle with brain cancer is ongoing, he remains optimistic about the future, grateful for the precious time he can now spend with his family. Through his experience, he continues to inspire others by openly sharing his medical journey on social media.
(Source: New York Post, adapted)
Vocabulary List:
- Revolutionary (adjective): Involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.
- Incurable (adjective): Not able to be cured or remedied.
- Prognosis (noun): A forecast of the likely course of a disease or ailment.
- Immunotherapy (noun): Treatment that uses certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight diseases such as cancer.
- Resilience (noun): The ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
- Inspire (verb): To motivate or encourage someone to do something.
