'I don't want to die': how two doctors put their faith in their work
Feb 6, 2024
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Prof Georgina Long and Prof Richard Scolyer, Australians of the Year, discuss their groundbreaking work in melanoma research. They share their personal connection to the disease and their world-first treatment for Richard's brain cancer. The podcast explores prevention strategies, screening programs, and an experimental treatment case, offering hope for a cure.
The pioneering work of Prof Georgina Long and Prof Richard Scolyer has significantly increased survival rates for melanoma, inspiring hope for improved outcomes.
A cultural shift towards sun safety measures and targeted screening programs can contribute to reducing deaths from melanoma.
Deep dives
Increasing Survival Rates for Melanoma
Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolia, co-medical directors of Melanoma Institute Australia, have made significant strides in increasing survival rates for melanoma patients. By utilizing groundbreaking treatment methods, including immune therapies, they have transformed the prognosis for those with melanoma. Through clinical trials, they have achieved a five-year survival rate of over 55%, compared to less than 5% a decade ago. Moreover, their research has influenced the treatment of other cancers as well.
Challenging the Perception of Melanoma
Melanoma, often regarded as an unsexy cancer, has posed challenges in terms of effective treatments. Historically, medical oncologists struggled to combat this aggressive cancer, which lacked viable drug therapies. However, the innovative approaches employed by medical oncologists like Professor Georgina Long have revolutionized melanoma treatment. Through immunotherapy, they have witnessed remarkable results, pushing the boundaries of what was once considered an incurable disease. This transformation has changed perceptions about melanoma and has inspired hope for improved outcomes.
Promoting Sun Safety and Preventing Melanoma
Australia faces a significant public health issue with high incidence rates of melanoma. The co-medical directors emphasize the importance of preventing melanoma through sun safety measures. They call for a shift in cultural attitudes toward tanning, urging advertisers and social media influencers to stop glamorizing tanning. The goal is to make sun safety as ingrained in society as wearing seat belts or helmets. Additionally, implementing a targeted melanoma screening program for high-risk individuals could further contribute to the mission of reaching zero deaths from melanoma.
When Prof Georgina Long and Prof Richard Scolyer accepted their award for Australians of the Year, they had a very personal message. Their pioneering work has dramatically increased survival rates for melanoma, the most common cancer among people between 20 to 39 years old. But they are also fighting a different, equally challenging battle as they apply their expertise to a world-first treatment for Scolyer’s own terminal brain cancer. In his own words: “I’m not ready to die yet.” You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport
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