A SWIMMING star with inoperable brain cancer begged Andy Burnham to invest in improving cancer treatment.
Archie Goodburn, 25, stole the headlines with a at the Games.
Archie Goodburn sent a tear-jerking appeal to Prime Minister Andy Burnham Credit: X @BBCBreakfast
The star competed in the 50m breaststroke final last week Credit: PA
Though he finished seventh, or joint-last as he called it, the fact the Scottish star even competed was labelled an inspiration by his fellow racers.
Just two years ago the rising star was diagnosed with a rare, inoperable cancer after doctors found a number of Oligodendrogliomas on his brain.
The outlook is that the disease is terminal, and he was told at the time he might not see his forties – but that did little to deter him from chasing his dreams of silverware.
Now, just days after his appearance, he appeared on Breakfast to discuss the new Rare Cancers Bill and sent a stark message to PM Burnham.
He said: “What’s frustrating, and we welcome the Rare Cancers Bill, but that Rare Cancers Bill we truly do not believe is going to be enough to make the changes.
“The Rare Cancers Bill covers 14 different types of cancers, rare cancers. Brain cancer is one of these in terms of incidents of diagnosis, but it’s not the same in terms of the number of deaths it causes. It is extremely deadly.
“Yes, it’s rare, but it’s extremely deadly. This frustrates me immensely. And the Rare Cancers Bill establishes two new positions, a clinical lead and a research lead. These two roles are part-time across 14 different types of cancers, and they accumulate to 36 days a year.
“Those two roles to cover 14 different types of cancers to try and change the landscape of treatment. I do not see how 36 days a year is going to make that change for 14 different types of cancers, let alone the most deadly type of cancer.”
Goodburn was a rising star before his diagnosis, and has incredibly only gotten better since Credit: Getty
Goodburn raced against Adam Ramsay-Peaty Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
An emotional Goodburn then began to tear up and shake as he asked which camera was live at the time, before looking straight down the barrel and sending a message to the Prime Minister.
He continued: “So Andy Burnham, if you believe and you want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us.
“Please establish a national brain cancer lead and give us a chance to fight for our lives because honestly, the things that patients are going through out there is just unbelievable and so unjust.
“There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives, and we are not seeing them in the UK, and it is unfair and unjust.
“So please, please invest and make the difference because I’m on my knees begging for not just my own life but those of my best friends and those who are affected and the families all around the country.
“This has to change. It’s been going on for too long and the suffering is unbearable.
“I’m sorry. The Rare Cancers Bill is not going to be enough. It is a step in the right direction, but it is not going to cover, it’s not going to make the changes we need.”
Experimental treatments have emerged in recent years with the ability to save lives.
Most notably in Goodburn’s case was Vorasidenib, a breakthrough treatment that allowed him to delay the prospect of chemotherapy and keep his dreams of competing in the pool alive.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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