Leading experts have said the Prime Minister’s meeting with Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn is a “pivotal opportunity to change prospects for brain tumour patients”.
Goodburn, who was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was 22, made an emotional plea to Andy Burnham for more action on brain tumours earlier this year. The swimmer, now 25, described how trials around the world are not being seen in the UK, which is “unfair and unjust”, as he called for Mr Burnham to establish a national brain cancer lead.
Emotional plea on BBC Breakfast
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Goodburn was in tears as he said: “Please invest and make the difference. I’m on my knees begging for not just my own life but those who are affected and the families all around the country.
“This has to change, it has been going on for too long and the suffering is unbearable.”
Mr Burnham responded to the emotional plea by inviting Goodburn to meet him, with the meeting due to take place soon.
Experts call for step change in funding
Speaking before the meeting, a group of brain cancer experts said there needs to be a “step change” in funding from Government. A new open letter, organised by the charity Brain Tumour Research and signed by a number of top scientists and doctors, warns that Government ambitions to improve survival rates for cancer patients “will never be met” for patients with brain tumours without “substantial additional investment”.
Without more funding, adults and children diagnosed with many forms of brain cancer “will continue to not stand a chance”, according to the letter. The letter highlights how just 1% of national cancer research funding has been allocated to study brain tumours between 2002 and 2021.
Charity funding dominates brain tumour research
Analysis from the charity found that three-quarters (74%) of research funding into brain tumours comes from the charity sector, compared to just 26% from Government. It said that while Government funding has increased in recent years, levels are not enough to create a pipeline of treatments entering clinical trials.
The letter states: “The Prime Minister’s forthcoming meeting with Archie Goodburn is a pivotal opportunity to change the prospects for brain tumour patients through a renewed Government commitment on research, innovation and faster access to effective treatments.”
It adds: “We need to see a step change in funding from Government and the growth of a life sciences sector in this country that incentivises innovation and investment globally.
“The National Cancer Plan for England sets out a survival rate for Britain to move into the top quartile of European countries for people remaining alive at five years after their diagnosis by 2035.
“Whilst some funding has been unlocked, without substantial additional investment from Government, this target for brain tumours will never be met as we will not generate the pipeline of medicines and interventions that patients desperately need. Unless the Prime Minister commits to substantial additional funding adults and children diagnosed with many forms of this disease will continue to not stand a chance.”
Brain Tumour Research said that in 2023-24 some £26.2 million was invested to study brain cancer, with £6.8 million coming from the Government.
Dr Karen Noble, director of research and policy at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Brain tumours continue to be the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40 in this country.
“While we welcome political momentum and increased investment through the National Cancer Plan for England, NIHR Consortium and the Rare Cancers Act, we need to see the Government matching or exceeding charity investment if we are to accelerate progress and, crucially, improve survival rates for patients.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “For too long, brain cancer has not received the attention it deserved, and our National Cancer Plan is working to change that, with faster access to life-changing clinical trials, a new national clinical lead for rare cancers, and new innovations like the rapid brain tumour test to transform treatment for patients.
“But we have heard the calls for further action from campaigners and clinicians working in this field, and the Prime Minister and Health Secretary are continuing to engage with those groups, and work out what additional improvements we can make.”
