Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, has shared how he was identified with cancer, revealing the illness was noticed “relatively early”.

The 56-year-old spoke about his skin cancer prognosis that got here after he seen a mole on his head.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he stated: “I had a mole in my head that just grew and grew.

“Eventually, I was told I needed to have it removed.”

Tests confirmed he had basal cell carcinoma, one of many extra widespread types of the illness.

Mr Hunt shared how listening to the news of his sickness was a get up name.

“I was a cabinet minister at the time, not in my current job, but it was obviously the first time that the ‘C word’ had been used in terms of my own health so that makes you sit up,” he recalled.

"But I was blessed. It was not a life-threatening cancer and it was caught relatively early.”

This was not the first time Mr Hunt’s family were affected by cancer.

The Tory politician lost both parents, Nicholas and Meriel, to the disease in 2013 and 2022 respectively.

And in 2020, his brother Charlie was diagnosed with sarcoma, which is a rare cancer that can start in the bones or soft tissue.

He continued: "I had very good remedy from the NHS to take away it, however I'm very conscious of members of my circle of relatives who've had a lot harder battles in opposition to most cancers, and I do know that’s what households are going by way of up and down the nation.

“My brother is doing OK, but like many families who have cancer, it is a life-changing thing."

What is basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer - the more common and less deadly skin cancer than melanoma.

According to the NHS, a common symptom is a “small, shiny pink or pearly-white lump with a translucent or waxy appearance”.

The well being physique says: “It can also look like a red, scaly patch.

“There's sometimes some brown or black pigment within the patch.

“The lump slowly gets bigger and may become crusty, bleed or develop into a painless ulcer.

“Basal cell carcinoma does not usually spread to other parts of the body.”

Other widespread indicators of non-melanoma pores and skin most cancers are the looks of a discoloured patch of pores and skin or lump that persists over weeks and progresses over months or years.

The NHS provides: “See a GP if you have any skin abnormality, such as a lump, ulcer, lesion or skin discolouration that has not healed after four weeks.

“While it's unlikely to be skin cancer, it's best to get it checked.”