An Australian doctor who was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year revealed that he got rid of the deadly cancer thanks to an experimental treatment that is the first of its kind.
Richard Scullier, 57, a professor at the University of Sydney, said on Monday that the incurable stage four glioblastoma discovered in his head had not recurred after he received the heartbreaking diagnosis last June.
“I had a brain MRI scan last Thursday, looking for recurrent glioblastoma (and/or treatment complications). I found out yesterday that there is still no sign of recurrence,” Scullier wrote on the X platform. “I’m so happy!” ".
In May 2023, Scullier suffered an epileptic seizure while at a medical conference in Poland. Scullier returned to Australia, where he underwent an MRI, which revealed that he had glioblastoma, an aggressive, fast-growing, and terminal form of brain cancer. Most patients with it do not live for more than a year.
Scullier, a pathologist and director of the Melanoma Institute of Australia, collaborated with co-director Georgina Long to develop a treatment plan to help combat the deadly disease.
The duo's decade-long immunotherapy research at the Melanoma Institute has led to a major breakthrough in the treatment of advanced melanoma. They found that immunotherapy works best when a combination of drugs is used and when it is given before any surgery to remove the tumor.
A large portion of patients have been cured with this procedure, but this treatment has never been used for any type of brain cancer. Despite this, the doctor decided to test his method on his own deadly tumor, becoming "Patient Zero", using a combination of immunotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and a personalized vaccine.
After consulting experts, Professor Long decided to use the world's first combination immunotherapy, which was administered before and after Scullier's surgery to remove the tumor.
In addition to combination immunotherapy, Scullier was the first to receive a vaccine tailored to the characteristics of his tumor, which would help enhance the drugs' abilities to detect cancer.
He also received six weeks of radiation therapy after surgery.
In fact, Scullier suffered seizures, liver problems and pneumonia during the first few months, but has since improved and returned to his daily routine, including a brisk 9.3-mile-a-day run.
“It certainly doesn't mean my brain cancer is cured... but it's good to know it hasn't come back yet, so I still have more time to enjoy my life with my wife, Katie, and my three wonderful children,” Scullier said.
Scullier documented his medical journey, sharing all the MRI results on his social media.
Scientists now hope that this treatment will one day help the approximately 300,000 people diagnosed with brain cancer every year around the world.
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