Articles & Contributions
David regularly contributes guest blogs and awareness pieces for Heartburn Cancer UK and other healthcare platforms. Selected articles are listed below.
Published by Heartburn Cancer UK
December
2025
How to Advocate for Yourself in Healthcare and Beyond
A personal reflection on learning to speak up during cancer treatment. Drawing on lived experience, David explores why self-advocacy isn’t confrontation but protection — and shares practical ways patients can regain clarity, confidence, and control within complex healthcare systems.
January
2026
Cancer Does Not Always Announce Itself In Dramatic Ways
A reflective piece on how oesophageal cancer can begin with subtle, easily dismissed symptoms like persistent heartburn or difficulty swallowing. David explores how diagnosis reshapes perspective, why early awareness matters, and how strength, clarity, and hope are often found in small, deliberate steps.
February
2026
More than Noise
February is Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month and every year it arrives with good intentions: campaigns, social media posts, statistics, ribbons, and slogans urging people to “be aware.” And yes, awareness is important. It always has been. However as someone living beyond an oesophageal cancer diagnosis, I’ve learned something that feels uncomfortable to say out loud – awareness can be loud and still fail.
March
2026
Life After Oesophagectomy
Four years after life-saving oesophagectomy surgery, I reflects on how the operation changed both my body and my perspective on life. While the tumour was removed, recovery brought lasting adjustments, including new ways of sleeping, eating smaller meals, and managing long-term physical effects.
April
2026
Telling People you have Cancer
This blog reflects on the emotional challenge of telling others about an oesophageal cancer diagnosis. After the initial shock, the author describes the unexpected burden of having to share life-changing news with family, friends, and colleagues—often without guidance or preparation. Each conversation brings different reactions, from disbelief to reassurance, while the patient is still processing their own fears and uncertainty.
Media Coverage
David’s story and advocacy work have been featured in national and local media, and presented at conferences across the UK and internationally. These features reflect his commitment to bringing lived experience into conversations about cancer care, genomics, and survivorship.
- Manchester Evening News – Feature on diagnosis and survivorship
- Liverpool Echo – National coverage on early symptoms and awareness
- Wigan Today – Local feature on remission and publication of Gulp
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust – “Life After Oesophageal Cancer” feature
- OncoDNA User Meeting 2025, Cologne – International genomics conference speaker
- Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance – Regional awareness and advocacy coverage
Appearances
David has shared his experience and advocacy work at international conferences and regional healthcare initiatives. The following recordings capture his contribution to discussions on genomics, survivorship, and the patient voice in modern cancer care.
Speaking at International Genomics Conferences
David was invited to speak at international genomics forums, including the OncoDNA User Meeting in Cologne, sharing the lived experience of cancer within discussions on personalised medicine and genomic profiling. His contribution focused on ensuring that innovation in precision oncology remains grounded in the realities faced by patients.
Supporting the “We Are The Christie” Campaign
David was invited to support The Christie NHS Foundation Trust’s “We Are The Christie” awareness campaign, sharing his experience of The Christie to help raise understanding.
Supporting Heartburn Roadshow Manchester
In October 2025, Heartburn Cancer UK teamed up with Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance to take important awareness messages directly into local communities.
‘My Friend Has Cancer’
My Friend Has Cancer is a Made By Mortals production coproduced by Greater Manchester Cancer Patient Reps and funded by The Personalised Care team and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement programme.