An 80-year-old man has survived cancer three times.

Douglas Goodall, from Sidmouth, was first diagnosed with cancer when he was just 27 years old.

Doctors gave him just six weeks to live.

He had been married for a short time and had a newborn baby when he was told the devastating news.

Mr Goodall said: "The first time I was given a cancer diagnosis was when I was 27 and it took a year for the doctors to diagnose testicular cancer which had spread to the pancreas and other organs.

"My wife was told I had just weeks to live and we just had a baby boy, Alexander, who was a few months old.

"Doctors at first told her that I shouldn’t be told I was soon to die as I would find it too upsetting.

"It was explained to her there was no more they could do, but then a consultant from London stepped in a short while later and announced he would operate.

"That happened on Betty’s birthday and my life was saved."

The operation was a success and was followed by 10 weeks of Cobalt therapy.

After a decade, Mr Goodall was given the all-clear.

However, in 2015, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer and treated with immunotherapy.

A third diagnosis came in 2022, this time for prostate cancer.

Despite these setbacks, Mr Goodall remains upbeat and now volunteers at the Cancer Research UK shop in Sidmouth.

He said: "When I told the nurse that it was my third cancer diagnosis, she said it is a silly thing to collect and why didn’t I collect stamps instead.

"My life has changed in many ways, but it is thanks to research that I am here today.

"I am managing with my prostate cancer currently and I am on a watch and wait programme."

Mr Goodall and his wife Betty are now supporting the Stand Up To Cancer campaign, a joint fundraising venture by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Mr Goodall said: "It was a huge shock when I heard the words "you have cancer".

"I was terrified that I wouldn’t be around to see my child grow up.

"But it’s thanks to research that I’m still standing and can look forward to a future full of special moments with my loved ones."

The campaign encourages people to take part in a 100 squats a day challenge this November to help raise funds for life-saving research.

Since its launch in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer has raised more than £113 million, funding 73 clinical trials and research projects involving more than 13,000 cancer patients.