Sir Jeremy Heywood was diagnosed with cancer in June and received treatment over the summer and early Autumn which “went well”, the Cabinet Office revealed today.
In a statement it said Heywood, the cabinet secretary who has also been head of the civil service since September 2014, continued working normally throughout the treatment with the full support of his doctors.
He remains focused on his duties, it added.
His diagnosis came in the same month as the snap general election, after which prime minister Theresa May returned to office with a minority government.
The statement said: “Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, was diagnosed with cancer in June.
“He underwent treatment over the summer and early autumn which went well. Throughout this period, with the full support of his doctors, Sir Jeremy has continued with his normal duties for the prime minister and cabinet, and as head of the civil service.
“He remains totally focused on those duties and we will be making no further comment on this private matter.”
Heywood yesterday threw his support behind a major mental health support initiative that he pledged to roll out across the civil service.