Warren Buffett reveals he has cancer – but insists he'll win the fight

Warren Buffett will undergo treatment for early-stage prostate cancer (Reuters)

The billionaire Warren Buffett sought to reassure his followers of his health last night, after disclosing that he will undergo treatment for early-stage prostate cancer.

The 82-year-old founder of Berkshire Hathaway said the condition is "not remotely life threatening or even debilitating in any meaningful way". Early prostate cancer is common and treatable in men his age, and Mr Buffett will undergo a two-month course of radiation therapy that will prevent him from travelling, but not from working.

"I feel great – as if I were in my normal excellent health – and my energy level is 100 per cent," Mr Buffett said, promising to stay in his job and update investors if anything changed.

Although Mr Buffett dominates Berkshire, he has laid plans for the succession, saying earlier this year that the name of the next chief executive has been decided upon by his board.

Mr Buffett was diagnosed with the cancer last Wednesday, but continued to work as doctors carried out tests to check it had not spread, which it had not. Last Friday he held a two-and-a-half hour question and answer session with business students and this Monday he was videoing comedy sketches that will be shown at the Berkshire AGM.