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A top Scottish swimmer, whose Olympic aspirations were destroyed by an untreatable brain tumor, has found “new hope” due to a pioneering medication.

Archie Goodburn, 24, had previously won a bronze medal in the men’s 50m breaststroke at the 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships inHungary in 2019. 

He envisioned competing for Great Britain as a swimmer in the 2024 Paris Olympics.Olympics– however, his hopes came to a sudden stop when he started having unexplained seizures.

The young athlete would lose a place on the Olympic team by a mere fraction of a second, after which he underwent an individual MRI scan.

In May 2024, his “worst fear” came true as he was diagnosed with three large oligodendrogliomas – a rare type of diffuse and progressive brain tumor.cancer – which are inoperable. 

In an Instagramat that time, Goodburn said to his followers: ‘Six weeks ago, my life underwent a significant transformation when I was diagnosed with three brain tumors.

In December 2023, my training started to face unusual interruptions. These incidents, at first believed to be hemiplegic migraines, would take place during intense workouts.

They would leave me feeling weak and with a numb sensation on my left side, accompanied by a strong sense of fear, nausea, and intense déjà vu. I now realize these were actually seizures. The seizures became more severe and occurred more frequently as the 2024 Olympic trials approached in April, an event I had worked towards and trained for almost my entire life.

Initially, he was informed that chemotherapy or radiotherapy were his only choices to slow the tumor’s growth, but now a daily pill may provide him with an alternative to the harsh side effects of conventional treatment.

Voretinib, the initial therapy for this form of cancer in more than two decades, was developed by the French pharmaceutical company, Servier.

It was subsequently authorized by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK’s pharmaceutical regulator, for application within the United Kingdom on Wednesday.

Studies have demonstrated that Vorasidenib doubles the survival period, increasing it from 11 to 28 months, and the athlete is now advocating for its availability throughout the NHS.

Since becoming eligible two months ago, the athlete has been receiving it through a compassionate use program administered by Servier.

Now, Goodburn aims to participate in the Commonwealth Games next year in Glasgow, competing for his country in the 50m backstroke.

The young individual, who trains 11 times per week, is also pursuing a master’s degree in chemical engineering at Edinburgh University, specializing in cancer medications.

He told The Times: “I was informed that my tumors were untreatable and couldn’t be surgically removed. It was something that likely would have killed me, but they couldn’t take any action,” said Goodburn.

Vorinib has provided me with hope that I can participate in the Commonwealth Games. It’s difficult to plan too far ahead, and I undergo a scan every three months to check if the tumor is progressing or remaining inactive.

The mental strain of having a ticking time bomb in your mind is unimaginable. There isn’t a single moment during the day when you aren’t thinking about it.

The medication is now scheduled to be sent to the health regulator, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), prior to its distribution throughout the NHS.

Vorinostat is currently employed as a therapy for brain cancer in several nations, including the United States.

The leading cause of death for individuals under 40 is brain cancer, yet it receives less than one percent of research funding.

Regarding the recent MHRA approval of the medication, the Astro Brain Tumour Fund stated it was “a significant step forward for low-grade glioma brain tumours.”

Paula Valencia, the general manager of Servier UK, stated: ‘Introducing the first targeted treatment in more than 20 years to the UK marks a significant advancement for individuals affected by Grade 2 IDH-mutant glioma.’

It showcases decades of study and teamwork, providing individuals in their thirties and forties with a fresh approach to delay the advancement of the condition.

Ensuring access is a top concern, and we are dedicated to collaborating with the government and health officials to make this innovative treatment available to patients in the UK who need it.

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