Former Australian of the Year undergoes brain surgery after health setback

A medical professor who has had a new treatment to treat his brain cancer has undergone a "complex surgery".

Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer, 58, said he had the latest operation after a "tough" time which saw "changes" detected in his brain.

"Unfortunately my recent scans show some new changes which could be an effect of my previous treatment or recurrent brain tumour," he said on Instagram.

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Scolyer said he is now recovering from the latest operation at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in Sydney.

"Now I am focused on my recovery," he said, thanking people for their wishes.

Scolyer was diagnosed with incurable grade 4 brain cancer

He risked shortening his lifespan with an experimental treatment based on Professor Georgina Long and her team's work on melanoma.

The pair were named Australians of the Year in 2024.

He became the world's first brain cancer patient to have pre-surgery combination immunotherapy.

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While overseas for a work conference, Scolyer had a seizure and was diagnosed with an "incurable" glioblastoma.

The brain tumour was aggressive and he was given six to nine months to live.

For the past 20 years, there have been no major advancements in brain cancer treatment.

But Long used everything they've learnt about treating melanoma to try and cure his tumour, A Current Affair reported.