Archie Goodburn, a 23-year-old British swimmer, has been diagnosed with three large oligodendrogliomas, a rare and progressive form of brain cancer. These inoperable tumors were discovered after tests conducted following this year’s Olympic trials.
Goodburn has previously won bronze in the men’s 50m breaststroke at the 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships and represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
In an Instagram post, Goodburn shared his experience: “Six weeks ago, my life changed profoundly when I was diagnosed with three brain tumors.” He began experiencing “strange episodes” last December, initially thought to be migraines. These suspected seizures caused a loss of strength and a numbing sensation on his left side.
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Despite the seizures increasing in intensity and frequency, Goodburn continued to train for the 2024 Olympic trials in April. He narrowly missed making the Olympic team by just a few tenths of a second, placing third in an event with only two spots. After the trials, an MRI in May confirmed his worst fears.
While surgery is not an option, Goodburn remains hopeful about radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He said, “The silver lining to this diagnosis is that oligodendrogliomas generally respond better to radiotherapy and chemotherapy than many other serious brain tumor types. They are often slow-growing and likely years old.”
Despite the diagnosis, Goodburn is determined to stay optimistic. He added, “I am young, I am fit, I have the most phenomenal support network of friends, the best family I could ever hope for, and a fantastic girlfriend by my side. I am determined to take this head-on, to remain positive, and to keep being Archie.”
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