<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Acclaimed melanoma expert and former Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer has shared a health update in his battle with brain cancer, saying his condition is getting "a bit tougher".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Scolyer, 59, was diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma in 2023 and was given months to live.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite his prognosis, he managed to defy the odds.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-shooting-iran-live-updates-us-politics-april-28-king-charles/b8458881-ea3b-4a8c-b1a8-23b686b4bdce"><strong><span>'Not happy': Secretive Trump meeting dooms Iran deal</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Scolyer and his colleague, Professor Georgina Long, pioneered immunotherapy research, transforming the way melanomas are treated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a world-first, that same treatment was used to treat his brain cancer, until the cancer returned in February last year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Scoyler told his supporters yesterday things have been "getting a bit tougher" over the past month or so.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/richard-scolyer-former-australian-of-the-year-shares-health-update-in-battle-with-brain-cancer/7b4fd6d5-dc6f-4cd0-829f-42b7c4d5b092" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Particularly with my energy levels and some memory problems," he said on Instagram.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But I'm still enjoying good times with family and friends.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I've asked my family to continue to share my journey, even when I'm not able to do it well myself at times.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Thanks for all the ongoing love and support."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/aukus-nuclear-submarines-deal-in-jeopardy-warn-british-mps/b6d000ea-7fb7-4279-bf56-90a703b1982a" rel="" target="" title="'Cracks starting to show' in Australia's $368 billion nuclear submarine deal"><strong><span>'Cracks starting to show' in Australia's $368 billion nuclear submarine deal</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite the ups and downs, Scolyer hasn't stopped doing what he loves.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has prioritised spending time with his family and friends.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Scoyler has also raised funds for this year's Tour de Cure and reached his </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/professor-richard-scolyer-completes-his-250th-parkrun/bb93c3bf-f9b4-4b7e-ae06-fcd4c43d6fc7" rel="" target="_blank" title="250th Parkrun in June last year."><span>250th Parkrun in June last year.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Back in September last year, the federal government committed $5.9 million to establish the Richard Scolyer Chair in Brain Cancer Research at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The program was named in Scolyer's honour due to his contribution to brain cancer research and advocacy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The funding will be used to support the salaries of the professorial chair as well as postdoctoral fellows, research assistants and PhD scholarships, along with research costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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