Scottish swimmer and campaigner Archie Goodburn, 25, returned to the BBC Breakfast red sofa on Saturday, 17 October, alongside presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty, sharing an update on his brain cancer battle and his campaigning efforts. Goodburn had previously appeared on the programme earlier this year, where he made a tearful plea to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urging more funding for brain cancer research.
Prime Minister's promises
Goodburn began by saying: "I'm really excited about the promises being made by the Prime Minister this week. But what I've realised is brain cancer has this very short prognosis for so many patients, and I've been lucky to be diagnosed with a type that has longer prognosis, so I've felt a bit of pressure to take advantage of that and campaign for those who don't have the same amount of time to make what I think can be a real difference."
He detailed that he had a low-grade glioma which began to grow more rapidly, and the "aggressive behaviour" from it caused his blood-brain barrier to break down two years ago. He managed to get access to a drug which was not initially approved in the UK, but this decision has since been reversed.
Treatment and frustration
Discussing the battle for these drugs, Goodburn continued: "Brain cancer is obviously very difficult to treat, and nowhere in the world has cracked it, no where is curing it. All forms are currently incurable. But what we are seeing is other countries getting longer survival, other countries getting access to trials which patients here would be really excited to try."
He added: "That's the frustration, but that's also one of the promises that the Prime Minister and Health Secretary have committed to changing this week, so we're really excited about that."
He went on: "The personal side is, you want to go to bed knowing options are available to some extent. So if the treatment that I'm on right now fails, there's an option afterwards. And right now, there isn't really. I would have to undergo radiotherapy which would massively compromise my cognitive health, I'm not sure I would be able to continue in the workplace in the way that I am now. It's really that reassurance and being able to plan for the future rather than living in fear of it."
Hope for the future
Goodburn expressed his hope that the government would "urgently" uphold the promises made, and felt "reassured" by the communications he'd received thus far. "It really seems like they are following through with these promises, and they do want to position the UK as a global leader in this," he said.
He continued: "There's obviously the selfish perspective as well, this is going to help me. There's a trial abroad that I would love to have access to that isn't in the UK. So as well as hopefully impacting the lives of thousands of others around the UK, I'm hoping that these three promises will really make a difference to my life as well, and allow me to look forward to the future and plan to raise a family and live the best life possible."
He added: "It's going to impact me, I really have been fighting for my life and the last few months have been very stressful but there's been lots of people around me to support."
As the interview drew to a close, Goodburn seemed to hold back tears, his eyes glistening as he discussed recent hardships. Presenter Naga asked him: "After knowing you've achieved this, I just wonder it's the small things in life, that perhaps when you're so stressed you fail to enjoy. Just the little things like going out and seeing the sun shining and thinking, I can appreciate that a little bit more now. Is there anything that's changed in that way, just that little sense of relief?"
Goodburn responded: "I think to be honest I have to say thanks to my girlfriend. I'm planning a really nice Saturday and Sunday with her this weekend, because it's been a bit of an up and down time since my last time on the sofa. Definitely looking forward to appreciating a little bit more time with her and friends around me."
