'An inspiration to us all' PM praise for Archie Goodburn as he announces brain cancer review
Goodburn, who was diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma when he was 22, made an emotional appeal for more action on brain tumours
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described Edinburgh swimmer Archie Goodburn as “an inspiration to us all” as he announced a review of brain cancer care after the pair met in Downing Street.
The 25-year-old Commonwealth Games star travelled to London to meet with Mr Burnham and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper to push for more action on brain tumours for sufferers across the country after he made a public plea to the PM on live television earlier this year.
The Edinburgh-born swimmer was diagnosed with three oligodendroglioma, a rare type of brain tumour which can affect the brain and spinal cord, when he was just 22 years old. He has since used his platform to call for more support and research funding.
Following the meeting at Number 10, the Government announced that a review into brain cancer progress, the first of its kind since 2018, would be undertaken by Professor Anthony Chalmers, with promises to get patients on new treatments earlier.
It was also announced that a national brain cancer lead would be established following Goodburn’s emotional plea for one on BBC Breakfast in August.
Mr Burnham also said he has asked the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to complete its review into rules for medicines which treat rare conditions in quicker timeframe of two year instead of three.
Mr Burnham said: “Archie is an inspiration to us all, and I am determined to deliver the change patients and their families deserve.
“He has spoken passionately about the need for change on brain cancer, and he’s right: progress hasn’t been good enough, here or anywhere else.
“Families facing this disease can’t afford to wait. That is why today we’re committing to appoint a dedicated national lead and setting out how we’ll get new treatments to patients faster.
“I strongly support this work and was delighted to welcome Archie to Downing Street to discuss it with him in person.”
Ms Cooper added: “We owe it to every family facing this devastating disease to do better. We’re acting to get more trials under way, new treatments to patients faster and make the UK a leader in tackling brain cancer.”
The Scottish 50m breaststroke record-holder first revealed his diagnosis in June 2024.
He explained that his training for the 2024 Olympics had been “interrupted by strange episodes”, adding: “These episodes, initially thought to be hemiplegic migraines, would occur during hard training.
“They would leave me with a loss of strength and a numb sensation on my left side, a deep feeling of fear, nausea and extreme deja vu. I now know that these were in fact seizures.”
Archie, who was told by doctors he may not live past 40, later told charity Brain Tumour Research: “I just couldn’t believe I had cancer, it made no sense.
“But I have since learnt that brain tumours are indiscriminate and that for many types, we just don’t know why some people get them.”
He underwent treatment and even went on to study brain tumours as part of his masters degree. During his studies, he came across a treatment named vorsaidenib which was linked to slowing tumour growth.
He began taking the "transformational" drug in December 2025 but voiced his concern for the future, telling Brain Tumour Research: “If vorasidenib fails then currently there is no ‘plan B’ or ‘next line’ of treatment in this country.
“I could deal with it better if I knew that across the world people stood the same chance, but that isn’t true – patients with my tumour type in the US have access to other drugs such as safusidenib and ivosidenib.”
Dan Knowles, chief executive at Brain Tumour Research, thanked Archie for his “tireless” campaigning, saying: “Government has seized the opportunity to place research at the heart of transforming outcomes for brain tumour patients.
“We are optimistic that this renewed focus will help ensure discoveries in the laboratory actually make it to patients who so desperately need more options.
“We thank Archie for his tireless efforts, as well as all those in the brain tumour community, to ensure those at the highest level of Government understand the devastating reality faced by brain tumour patients.”
And Edinburgh South West Labour MP Scott Arthur, whose Rare Cancers Bill became law earlier this year, said he was delighted the Prime Minister had committed to driving forward faster development of brain tumour treatments.
Dr Arthur said: “The confirmation that the orphan drugs review laid out in my Rare Cancers Act will take place in two years rather than three is particularly welcome. I hope that it will drive real progress to ensure we have the right treatments for patients facing the rarest cancers.
“Archie has been an excellent advocate for the brain tumour community. His activism and perseverance have driven action today and I know he will continue to fight for improved treatments and research for brain cancer patients and their families.”
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