UPDATE: Edinburgh swimmer Archie Goodburn is calling for immediate action on brain cancer care following his devastating diagnosis of incurable tumors. As he aimed to qualify for the Olympics, Goodburn learned he was battling a life-threatening condition that could cut his life short.
In an emotional appeal, Goodburn, who proudly represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, revealed that symptoms he experienced—including nausea and disorienting episodes—were actually signs of the aggressive cancer he was unaware he had. “The diagnosis after an MRI came back unfortunately as a form of brain cancer, a form of incurable brain cancer that is one day going to take my life,” he told STV News.
The urgency of Goodburn’s plea is underscored by alarming statistics: brain cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children and adults under 40 years old. Together with Brain Cancer Justice, a group advocating for those affected by the disease, Goodburn is highlighting the critical need for increased funding in brain cancer research and care.
Earlier this week in Edinburgh, the group organized a poignant walk, with participants wearing immobilization masks used during radiotherapy to draw attention to their cause. Goodburn is particularly advocating for better access to genomic testing for patients, stressing, “Out of all the developed nations, the UK ranks 22nd out of 29, so we’re lacking and dragging our feet there.”
The emotional toll of brain cancer is felt deeply within the community. Dawn Kennedy, a fellow advocate whose son, Jay, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer shortly after starting his studies at the University of Strathclyde in 2020, shared her heartbreak. Jay passed away just a year later at the age of 20. Dawn has transformed her grief into action, focusing on fundraising and raising awareness. “The options available are just so limited and when it’s your child, those words are just indescribable,” she said. “What’s left is our love – what do you do with that love and what do you do with the power of that love?”
As Goodburn and others continue their advocacy, the demand for enhanced brain cancer research and funding is more pressing than ever. Their collective efforts aim to create lasting change, ensuring that no one else has to face the same heartbreaking realities.
The community’s call to action is clear: increased investment in research, improved patient access to vital testing, and a commitment to fighting this devastating disease. As Goodburn puts it, “We need to see real progress and change, and we need it now.”
Stay tuned for more updates as this urgent story develops.
