A brain tumour patient - who is the UK’s longest survivor of his form of cancer - believes motivation is the key to survival.

David Grant was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in 2005, but nearly 10 years on the 58-year-old is living a normal life.

Long-term survival for GBM is considered to be anything over three years, while the average patient lives just 15 months after diagnosis.

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The father-of-one discovered his aggressive, grade four tumour after a week of headaches and an incoherent episode.

He was taken for surgery at King’s College Hospital in London. The Tunbridge Wells resident said: “At this stage medical staff were positive and motivating, but after my operation gone were the reassuring smiles, what they found was malignant.

"What surprised me most was lack of encouragement to fight to survive so my wife, Lisa, and I discussed my survival plan. Our daughter Lauren was two-years-old at the time so I made a pledge to walk her to her first day of primary school.”

Video: David Grant is the UK's longest survivor of his form of cancer.

The devoted father kept his promise and in 2007 walked Lauren, now 12, to Claremont Primary School.

He also took her to her first day at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Girls last year.

Mr Grant - a committed campaigner for Brain Tumour Research, recently underwent his 26th post-operative MRI scan which showed no hint of tumour recurrence. On August 26 the Grove Hill Road resident hopes to celebrate 10 years survival.

He added: “I have now set myself target to see Lauren through University in 2024, putting me at 19 years post-op and a stately 77. I want to get on with my life after a ghastly interruption that cost me my career and inflicted terror on my family.“

Mr Grant hopes his survival will give hope to others and is urging medical professionals to motivate patients, he said: “I believe motivation is just as powerful and relevant as any treatment regime.

"I want to shout out my message that medics need to stop trotting out average survival statistics. I’m just a guy who worked in an office, who is now on the cusp of surviving 10 years post-operation.

"I’m no-one special, so if I can do it, you can too."

Mr Grant has been travelling around the country speaking to medical professionals about his experience. He hopes his efforts will encourage clinicians to alter the way they speak to cancer patients.

For more information visit www.braintumourresearch.org