Len Chandler had pain in his foot for seven years.

But it wasn’t until April that the 71-year-old learned a cancer had eaten a hole in his heel and had made it difficult for him to walk.

After 50 years as a builder, he had worked right up until the day before his surgery on July 11.

“The doctors don’t know how long I would have had cancer for; they just said I’m lucky to be here — I shouldn’t be here,” Mr Chandler said.

“Normally it spreads and they would cut your foot off but for some reason mine didn’t spread and even the doctor can’t figure out why.”

After an x-ray at Wodonga hospital, Mr Chandler was referred to St Vincent’s Hospital surgeon Professor Peter Choong, who was developing techniques with 3D printing.

A team led by Professor Choong used scans of Mr Chandler’s left heel to create a 3D image to replace the right one.

Melbourne-based implant manufacturer Anatomics was brought in and created a mirror-image design to help in the creation of the new heel.

The CSIRO used its state-of-the-art Arcam 3D printer to build the implant from titanium.

“This is a great example of how advances in science and technology and research can be directed towards meeting a patient’s needs,” Dr Choong said.

Dr Choong said he’s spent years dreaming about this type of procedure.

“The idea is one of those things we often fantasise about — can I make something that’s exactly like the patient?

“Anyone in my field constantly thinks about that.

“Then you see the technology and it clicks.

“In this situation it was very helpful, because that bone that was removed was very complex in its shape and function.”

After a check on Monday, Mr Chandler said he can now bear weight on his foot.

“I could move my toes within the first four days,” Mr Chandler said.

“I had to get rid of the cancer so I could get on with life.”