Lansley has bowel cancer

FORMER health secretary Andrew Lansley has revealed he is being treated for bowel cancer.

But he said cuts “wrongly” imposed by the Treasury had frustrated the delivery of a screening programme he introduced in 2010 that could have ensured he was diagnosed earlier.

The Conservative peer, said doctors have told him he has “every reason to hope” his cancer can be effectively treated, keeping him alive for the long term.

Mr Lansley, 61, said he was “lucky” his cancer was spotted nine months ago, when spreading back pain and “nagging” from his wife persuaded him to see his GP.

The diagnosis was stage three tumours that had not spread to his liver.