Jimmy Carter's grandson says tests show the former US president's cancer has gone

Jimmy Carter’s grandson says no cancer was detected the last time the former US president underwent a scan.

Jason Carter told The Associated Press in a text message that his grandfather “told me that the doctors couldn’t find any cancer in his most recent scan”. It was not clear when the scan took place.

The elder Carter apparently shared the good news before giving a Sunday School lesson at Maranatha Baptist Church in his home town of Plains, Georgia. Jill Stuckey, a church leader who was present, said Carter announced that a brain scan this week showed no cancer.

Carter, 91, announced in August that he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain.

Doctors removed a portion of his liver and found four small tumours on his brain.

He received a round of targeted radiation and received doses of Keytruda, a newly approved auto-immune drug to help his body seek out any cancer cells appearing anywhere else in his body.

Ms Stuckey said people filling the sanctuary applauded after Carter’s announcement. “Our prayers have been answered,” she said. “I can’t think of a better Christmas present.”

The former president has remained active, volunteering on a building project with Habitat for Humanity and continuing to work at The Carter Centre, the human rights organisation he founded.