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British swimmer Archie Goodburn has revealed a heartbreaking diagnosis: the 23-year-old athlete from Edinburgh has inoperable brain tumors. Goodburn, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Olympics, started experiencing numbness and seizures during his training sessions, leading to a series of medical tests that uncovered the presence of three large oligodendrogliomas, a rare type of cancer that affects the brain and spinal cord.
The diagnosis has profoundly altered Goodburn's life. "Six weeks ago, my life experienced a profound change as I was diagnosed with three brain tumors", Goodburn shared on his Instagram account.
His symptoms began in December 2023, interrupting his training with episodes initially misdiagnosed as hemiplegic migraines. These episodes included a loss of strength, numbness on his left side, deep feelings of fear, nausea, and extreme déjà vu. It was only after the trials, following a deeper investigation, that an MRI in May confirmed his worst fears.
Goodburn's diagnosis is particularly challenging due to the nature of the tumors, which makes surgical removal impossible. He is now preparing for chemotherapy and radiotherapy in an effort to manage the disease.
Despite the severity of his condition, Goodburn remains hopeful, noting that oligodendrogliomas generally respond better to these treatments compared to other types of brain tumors. "The silver lining to this diagnosis is that oligodendrogliomas generally respond better to radiotherapy and chemotherapy than many other serious brain tumor types", Goodburn said. "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".
Goodburn represented Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and won bronze in the men’s 50m breaststroke at the 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships. His courage and determination in the face of this diagnosis have already inspired many in the sports community and beyond.
