Government promises faster brain cancer treatments after Archie Goodburn meets PM

Swimmer Archie Goodburn, 25, has met Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Downing Street to press for better brain cancer care, and the government has promised action to get patients new treatments more quickly.

The meeting followed an emotional appeal by Goodburn, who has inoperable brain cancer, on breakfast television earlier in the summer. He called for the creation of a national brain cancer lead and said patients needed a chance to fight for their lives. In that appeal, he told the Prime Minister: 'Andy Burnham, if you believe and you want to make change and the 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.'

After the Downing Street meeting, the government set out a series of measures. A panel of brain cancer experts now has three months to produce a plan on how to move new treatments from the lab to patients much faster. A new clinical lead in England will push forward research programmes, expand clinical trials and better coordinate services. A review of the rules on drugs for rare cancers will also be sped up, with the aim of getting new treatments to patients sooner.

Campaigners described the move as a generational shift in how brain tumours are dealt with in the United Kingdom. One campaigner said it was the first time a Prime Minister had actively committed in such a public way to listening to people like Archie and to recognising that change required practical steps and solutions. The campaigner added that the biggest risk would be to fail to try.

The human cost of the disease was also highlighted. Billy Thompson was four years old when he died in March 2024 after being diagnosed with a rare tumour. His mother, Ellie, said parents faced a death sentence and needed to know what options were available. She said families needed access to cutting edge treatments and clear information when making decisions, adding that this was a big thing that needed to change.

Goodburn said his campaigning had allowed him to have conversations about the injustices faced by the brain tumour community, and he described the meeting with Andy Burnham as a unique opportunity for change. After the meeting, he said he was optimistic but cautious. He noted that Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Lucy Chappell were all on board and had heard the voices of the entire community. He added: 'But it's just a moment. So let's see if this continues. But I'm savouring this moment.' He said the breakfast appeal had set the ball rolling and called it a good start, but he wanted to see action as well as warm words.