Heartburn Cancer UK

03/09/2026

🏆 A huge congratulations to Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald

We are absolutely delighted to see our trustee and friend, Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, recognised with the 2026 ESMO Award for her pioneering work in cancer prevention and early detection.

Rebecca’s work has made an enormous contribution to understanding how we can identify people at risk of oesophageal cancer and find better ways to detect the disease earlier, when it is more treatable.

Her work has also played a hugely important role in the development and evaluation of the capsule sponge test - helping to take an innovative idea from research into clinical practice.

At Heartburn Cancer UK, we know just how important this work is.

Too many people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer at a late stage. Improving early detection and finding better ways to identify people at risk could help change that.

We are incredibly proud to have Rebecca as a trustee of Heartburn Cancer UK, and we’re thrilled to see her contribution to cancer prevention and early detection recognised on the international stage.

Congratulations, Rebecca. What an achievement - and so very well deserved.

And a huge congratulations to all of the other 2026 ESMO Award recipients too. It’s wonderful to see so many researchers, clinicians and cancer professionals being recognised for their outstanding contributions to cancer research and care. 🧡

Read more about the 2026 ESMO Award recipients in OncoDaily’s article - https://oncodaily.com/societies/esmo-2026-society-award-recipients-579500

ESMO Announces 2026 Society Award Recipients: Rebecca Fitzgerald, Dan A. Landau, Pilar Garrido and Antoni Ribas / Antoni Ribas, Cancer Evolution, cancer

02/09/2026

❤️ We’re so pleased to see Peter’s incredible story being picked up by the national press.

Those of you who regularly follow our page will have seen our updates about Peter Dixon and his extraordinary 214 Peaks challenge, which he is completing in memory of his beloved wife, Clara.

Peter, principal cellist with the BBC Philharmonic, has been climbing all 214 of the Lake District’s Wainwright peaks, leaving a pebble bearing Clara’s name at each summit.

Clara sadly died from oesophageal cancer in 2023, aged just 56.

What started as a deeply personal journey through grief has become an incredible fundraising and awareness-raising mission. Through the Clara Dixon Trust, Peter has now raised more than £26,000 for Heartburn Cancer UK. ❤️

And he is so close to the finish line — just five peaks to go, with Great Gable, the first mountain he and Clara climbed together, waiting at the end.

We are genuinely amazed and incredibly grateful for everything Peter has done and continues to do in Clara’s memory.

His determination to turn his grief into something positive, helping to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer and support our work to encourage earlier diagnosis, is truly inspiring.

Thank you, Peter. ❤️

Thank you for every mile, every climb, every pebble and every conversation that has helped shine a light on oesophageal cancer. We feel incredibly privileged to be part of Clara’s legacy.

We’re delighted that Peter’s story has now been picked up by the national press - https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/poignant-final-steps-bbc-cellists-34550853

If you’re a subscriber to The Telegraph, you can read the feature there too - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/01/cellist-pebbles-late-wife-name-214-lake-district-peaks/

If you’d like to support Peter’s fundraising for Heartburn Cancer UK through the Clara Dixon Trust, you can find out more here:https://clara-dixon-trust.muchloved.com/

If you’d like to follow Peter as he takes those final steps, you can find him on Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/cellomanpeds/.

Please give him a follow and show him some love and support as he heads towards those final five peaks. ❤️

Go on, Peter. We’re right behind you. ❤️

01/09/2026

🧡 PPIs are in the news again

A recent article in the Express newspaper has highlighted concerns around the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), including omeprazole, which are commonly used to treat heartburn and acid reflux.

We welcome caution around long-term use when someone is self-medicating without guidance from a healthcare professional, or taking a PPI for a prolonged period without a medication review or further investigation of ongoing symptoms.

PPIs can be the right medication for some people, and they can be safely prescribed for longer periods when there is a clinical reason to do so. The NHS confirms that some people may need omeprazole for months or even years.

Our concern is that we too often hear from people who have been taking acid-suppressing medication for years while continuing to experience symptoms, without further investigation or a review of whether the medication is still appropriate.

Persistent symptoms should not simply be masked. Omeprazole can also make it harder to notice symptoms of some serious conditions, according to NHS guidance.

If you have any concerns about your medication, ongoing heartburn or acid reflux, speak to your GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.

👉 Read the Express article - https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2243239/nhs-two-week-warning-common-acid-drug/amp

👉 Read the NHS guidance on omeprazole - https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/

NHS information about the medicine omeprazole, including what it's used for, who can take it, how to take it and side effects.

31/08/2026

💔 One year ago, everything changed for Dan’s family

This weekend marks one year since Dan Griffiths was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.

Dan, known to so many as “Tubby”, was just 42. He was a loving partner to Lisa, a devoted dad and a much-loved friend.

After months of heartburn and swallowing symptoms, Dan was told he had incurable oesophageal cancer that had spread to his bones.

Just six weeks later, on 8 October 2025, Dan died.

Lisa said “I don’t want another partner to go from planning their wedding to planning a funeral in six weeks.”

Even during his own diagnosis, Dan wanted his experience to help others and was determined to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer.

Sadly, he never got to see the wedding he and Lisa were planning. So Lisa is doing it for him.

We are honoured to support Lisa and Dan’s family as they continue to share his story, raise awareness and fundraise in his memory.

👉 Read Dan's story here: https://heartburncanceruk.org/your-stories/dans-story/

30/08/2026

🧡 “I never imagined ignoring a bit of acid reflux could eventually lead to cancer.”

Mark Trask had been living with heartburn for more than 20 years. He remembers occasionally struggling to swallow food or drink, as though it was getting stuck in his throat.

He was in his 30s at the time and gradually accepted the heartburn as part of life. When his symptoms flared, he would reach for a Rennie and carry on with his day.

It wasn't until the end of 2018, when he experienced a particularly bad bout of acid reflux that kept getting worse, that he finally went to see his GP. He was referred for an endoscopy and, in January 2019, was diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark’s routine endoscopy was delayed. He was offered a capsule sponge test as part of a trial investigating it as a less invasive way of collecting cells from the oesophagus.

Ten days after taking the test, Mark was told it had detected dysplasia – abnormal cells that can develop into cancer. Further tests revealed that he had oesophageal cancer.

The crucial news was that it had been caught very early, when it was still highly treatable.

Mark says he feels incredibly fortunate that he was offered the capsule sponge test and now wants others to take persistent heartburn and other symptoms seriously.

His message is simple: don’t put things off. If something doesn’t feel right, get it checked.

Read Mark Trask’s story in The Telegraph - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/conditions/cancer/dismissed-heartburn-new-test-revealed-cancer/

27/08/2026

🧡 John’s story – raising awareness of oesophageal cancer in younger people

John Robertson is just 35 and lives in Ayrshire. He was diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer and is now fighting for more time with his wife, Nicole, and their three children.

Our COO, Fiona Labrooy, was proud to join John and Nicole as they bravely shared their story with BBC Radio Scotland. The interview has featured on BBC Radio Scotland’s breakfast and lunchtime news, and we’re hoping their story will be shared again on BBC Scotland TV news this evening.

We are increasingly concerned about the number of younger people being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, and John’s story is a powerful reminder that this disease does not only affect older people.

We are honoured to be supporting John and his family and hope, with all our hearts, that he is able to access the treatments he needs. 🧡

Thank you to John and Nicole for speaking so openly and bravely, and for helping to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer.

Please listen (click on the image), share and help us spread the message.

Read John’s story here: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/ayr-dad-diagnosed-stage-4-37560532

26/08/2026

🐾🧡 Happy National Dog Day

There’s something very special about dogs.

Their loyalty, friendship and unconditional love can mean so much, especially when life gets tough.

They seem to just know. They know when we need a cuddle, when we need a quiet moment, when we need cheering up – and somehow, they’re always there.

For people living with cancer, going through treatment or supporting someone they love, our four-legged companions can bring comfort on some of the hardest days. No questions, no judgement – just a wagging tail, a warm presence and the reassurance that they’re right there beside you. 🐶🧡

And for those who have lost someone they love to cancer, our dogs seem to sense the sadness too. They sit beside us when we're missing someone, offer comfort when the tears come, and remind us that love doesn't simply disappear when someone is no longer with us.

So today, on National Dog Day, we’re celebrating the wonderful dogs who bring a little more love, comfort and joy into our lives.

Because sometimes, you don’t need words. Your dog just knows. 🐾🧡

26/08/2026

🧡 Supporting research that could help change the future of oesophageal cancer detection 🧡

We’re proud to support two important research programmes – Heartburn Health and BEST4 – both working to build the evidence around earlier detection and the potential role of capsule sponge testing.

As part of our support, we are working in collaboration with the research teams to provide funding, as well as our Heartburn Cancer UK posters and Diet & Lifestyle leaflets in the testing units.

It’s fantastic to see our resources being used alongside this important research, providing people taking part with trusted information and practical advice about managing acid reflux and their health.

We hope this research will help provide the evidence needed to support the wider use of capsule sponge testing, potentially helping more people at risk of oesophageal cancer to be identified earlier.

We’re proud to play our part in supporting research that could make a real difference to earlier detection and, ultimately, save lives. 🧡

🔎 Want to know more about the research?

Heartburn Health programme:
https://heartburncanceruk.org/blog/you-can-now-join-the-heartburn-health-research-programme/

BEST4 research programme:
https://heartburncanceruk.org/blog/the-heartburn-health-best4-trials/

26/08/2026

🪂🧡 Third time lucky – Jas did it!

After two previous attempts were cancelled because of unfavourable conditions, Sunday was finally the day for Jas – and she did it! 🎉🪂

Jas took to the skies for an incredible skydive in support of Heartburn Cancer UK, with a very special person there to watch her jump – her dad, who is living with oesophageal cancer.

Jas told us: “It was amazing and my dad was there to watch me jump and he was very happy.”

Jas has raised an amazing £2,250 – with sponsorship still coming in! 🧡

A huge congratulations and thank you, Jas. What an incredible achievement and a fantastic way to raise both funds and awareness of oesophageal cancer.

You did it! 👏🪂🧡