Emotional interview leaves Ally Langdon in tears
A Current Affair host Ally Langdon was left in tears following an interview with renowned melanoma expert Dr Richard Scolyer.
The cancer expert revealed that he has decided to undergo a bold new therapy following his own incurable brain cancer diagnosis.
Dr Scolyer decided that instead of undergoing chemotherapy where he had "six to nine months to live at best", he chose to help progress research and treatment.
Current treatment options for the life-threatening disease are limited to surgery, and after conducting research, Dr Scoyler alongside close friend and scientific colleague Professor Georgina Long, concluded that immunotherapy was the only alternative option.
"It was a bleak outlook - standard treatment has remained unchanged for nearly two decades, and for my cancer, survival rates are zero," Dr Scoyler told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
"There were no clinical trials that I was eligible for. Accepting that status quo was never going to be an option"
Following his own diagnosis four months ago, the doctor decided to take part in an experimental treatment following a surgery, which involves a combination of immunotherapy and a vaccine designed to boost immune reaction against cancer cells.
This is all part of a clinical trial to test out the effectiveness of the vaccine, with the doctor sharing that he had "absolutely" no regrets in starting the experimental treatment.
"Faced with certain death, there was no other decision to make. I have spent my life diagnosing and researching cancer, so why would I stop now," he said.
"We've transformed melanoma, I want to give it a crack and see if we can make a different in brain cancer," he added.
Langdon teared up as the doctor shared his experience.
"I know we have to tread cautiously, it's very early stages, but it just makes me want to cry," the TV host said.
"It's so inspiring because you set out to blow up everything we know about treating brain cancer and you are doing it."
Langdon's voice broke as she praised the doctor, saying that he had "changed the world" even if his treatment was not successful.
She was also visibly teary-eyed in the outro of the segment as she described the doctor as "someone special."
Dr Scolyer's vaccine was developed using analysis of his specific tumour's genome, which allowed scientists to identify what treatment would be most effective for him.
Currently, his vaccine won't be used or sold to others, but following his experimental treatment he has gone back to work and is enjoying cycling and running.
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