‘Please listen to us’: Archie Goodburn’s emotional live TV plea sparks Andy Burnham response after tearful brain cancer appealScottish swimmer Archie Goodburn’s emotional appeal for better brain cancer research has received a direct response from Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Days after Goodburn urged the government to do more for brain cancer patients during an emotional BBC Breakfast interview, Burnham invited the Commonwealth Games swimmer to a personal meeting. The 25-year-old, who was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours more than two years ago, has become one of the strongest voices calling for better research, more clinical support and greater access to life-changing treatment. His message has now reached the highest level of government, with Burnham saying he wants to hear directly from him.Andy Burnham responds after Archie Goodburn’s emotional appealGoodburn’s emotional interview with BBC Breakfast, later shared on TikTok, showed him asking the government to make brain cancer a bigger priority. Fighting back tears, he said:“Andy Burnham, if you believe and want to make a change and a 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 the things that patients are going through out there are unbelievable and so unjust.There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives. We are not seeing them in the UK and it is unfair and unjust.Please invest and make the difference. I’m on my knees begging for - not just my own life - but for those of my best friends and those that are affected and the families around the country.This has to change. It’s been going for too long and the suffering is unbearable.”Responding to the clip on TikTok, Burnham wrote:“Archie, thank you for this. I know how hard it must have been.What you’re doing for other people while you’re going through all this yourself shows the best of us.I’d really like to meet you and hear from you directly and I’ve asked my team to get in touch.”Archie Goodburn says current brain cancer support is still not enoughEarlier this year, the Rare Cancers Bill, led by MP Scott Arthur, became law to encourage more research and investment into rare cancers. But Goodburn believes it does not go far enough for brain cancer patients.“It’s a step in the right direction but it’s not going to make the changes that we need,” he said. “I’m extremely grateful for Dr Scott Arthur and the work he’s done there.“The rare cancers bill covers 14 different types of rare cancers. Brain cancer is one of these in terms of incidents of diagnosis, but it’s not the same in terms of the number of deaths it causes.“Yes it’s rare, but it’s extremely deadly. This frustrates me immensely.“The rare cancers bill establishes two new positions: a clinical lead and a research lead. These two roles are part-time across 14 different types of cancers and they accumulate to 36 days a year.“There’s two roles to cover 14 different types of cancer and change the landscape of treatment.“I do not see how 36 days a year is going to make that change for 14 different types of cancers, let alone the most deadly type of cancer.”Despite missing out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Goodburn said the support he received from the home crowd gave him hope. He also explained why he plans to keep speaking up for brain cancer patients.“It was an honour to compete in front of such a fantastic and supportive home crowd,” he said. “To see the support off the back of those interviews has been really, really touching and inspiring.”He added: “I partly feel like why we don’t hear so much about brain cancer and why the awareness is so poor is because patients unfortunately die so quickly.“I have this prognosis which is slightly longer and it’s given me this time to advocate - it’s two years since I was diagnosed.“I think when you’re really backed up against a wall like that there’s only really one way to go and that’s to go and fight.”