The world's oldest cancer survivor is this 99-year-old great-grandfather

Age did not prove to be an obstacle for World War veteran Victor Marston in his battle against cancer. The 99-year-old great-grandfather is thought to be the world’s oldest cancer survivor after being successfully treated for a malignant tumour in his bowel.

The nonagenarian was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour after he was rushed to the hospital due to acute stomach pain. Special tests were then carried out on Marston to determine if he would be able to endure the operation in order to remove the deadly tumour. Post surgery, he was given the good news that the treatment worked – although he had no idea about it earlier – and that the tumour was removed. Now twelve days after his surgery, Marston has been told that he is good to go home this weekend.

Marston’s surgeon, Mr Wijeyekoon, says that he thinks that his patient was the oldest cancer survivor in the world to successfully have treatment. “We have been researching for the past few days whether there is another cancer survivor older than him in the world, but we haven't found anyone who has beaten his record,” he told the Daily Mail.

The free-spirited pensioner, who has already beaten bowel cancer twice in the past eight years, reveals that he had no clue that he had cancer until he was in the hospital. “They told me ''you are now clear of cancer'' and I said ''thank heavens for that, I've still got so much left to do'',” Marston says.

Just six months shy from his 100th birthday; he confesses that he is still not sure what the secret to a long life was. “Four years ago I was told by one of my doctors I was allowed a half pint of beer a day and I have, so maybe that's got something to do with it,” he believes.