Author McCourt battling with cancer

Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt is suffering from cancer, his publicist confirmed.

The Irish-American writer, best known for the memoir 'Angela’s Ashes', is receiving treatment for melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

But reports that he is gravely ill have been “exaggerated” and the cancer is in remission, his brother Malachy McCourt said.

The 78-year-old New York born author received hospital treatment a month ago but has since been released and is recuperating at home.

McCourt’s agent Molly Friedrich said he was doing “pretty well” and was undergoing chemotherapy for the condition.

Malachy McCourt, also an author, said his brother is “a hearty fellow and he’s survived worse than this”.