Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn broke down in tears on Good Morning Britain as he pleaded for access to a life-saving cancer drug. The 22-year-old, who was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, described the medication as giving him his life back, but said its approval in the UK is uncertain.
Goodburn, who was preparing for the Paris Olympics when he began experiencing seizures and numbness, was initially told he might have epilepsy. He was later diagnosed with an inoperable low-grade glioma and now has a 10x4cm tumour, plus two more, including one behind his eye, that cannot be removed.
Speaking on Friday's show, Goodburn said: 'Brain cancer is such a massive killer, it kills more men under the age of 70 than prostate cancer, more women under the age of 35 than breast cancer, more children than leukaemia, and the general public awareness for it is nowhere near that extent.'
He urged for faster diagnoses, better funding, and more research into targeted treatments. Goodburn described the drug's impact as 'phenomenal,' allowing him to live his life and fulfil his dreams without sacrificing his health. He added: 'If people don't get access to this drug, their lives are inevitably going to be shorter.'
Hosts Charlotte Hawkins and Adil Ray offered support, with Ray standing to comfort him. Viewers also shared their support on social media, with many pledging to sign his petition. Goodburn said he has lost friends his age to tumours and called the current situation 'not good enough.'
