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99-year-old WW2 veteran is world’s oldest cancer survivor
Victor Marston, 99, had no clue he had faced down the illness when he came round in hospital after complaining of acute stomach pains.
But as he woke from the lifesaving operation surgeons told the nonagenarian he had beaten bowel cancer for the third time in eight years.
Less than a fortnight later the pensioner was given a clean bill of health, and is expected to go home this weekend.
Mr Marston said: "After the surgery the doctors said they had cleared the blockage in my stomach and in doing so they had cleared the cancer as well.
"I didn't know I had cancer. You often get no sign with cancer.
"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'."
Mr Marston, who served with motorcycle reconnaissance battalion the Queen Victoria rifles in the Second World War, was preparing for a trip to Torqay with two friends when he started to become sick.
The pensioner was deemed to be in rude health aside from his history of bowel cancer, and was later cleared for surgery where his tumour was removed.
Mr Marston said: "I can't believe I'm the oldest cancer survivor, they tell me it's outstanding.
"You hear about neglecting old people and just letting them drift away, but if you want the opportunity to carry on it's here and they will keep you going as best they can.
"If they can cure cancer at 100, they can do anything.
"I'm not sure what the secret to a long life is but 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."
Surgeon Mr Wijeyekoon said: "Mr Marston is a true inspiration.
“His story is remarkable and demonstrates the NHS's commitment to providing quality care to every single one of its patients, no matter their age or if it is the weekend.
"Mr Marston is certainly the oldest cancer patient to be cured at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
“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."
The brave veteran, who is six months away from his 100th birthday, lost his wife Doris to Alzheimers nine years ago and his daughter to a rare form of lung cancer when she was 58.
His son-in-law Ray Wilshaw, 67, said: "Victor is a very positive person and until quite recently he was very active.
"He still is but his knees have given way now so he has a mobility scooter to get around.
"We can't believe he's the oldest cancer survivor, it's incredible. But he doesn't give up."
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