Kim Kardashian's hairstylist Chris Appleton reveals terrifying cancer scare - and says the reality star 'helped me through it'

Kim Kardashian's hairstylist Chris Appleton has revealed he had a terrifying cancer scare last year as he gave a health update on Tuesday. 

The celebrity hairstylist, 42, said that the reality star, 45, who's father Robert Kardashian died from esophageal cancer in 2003 at the age of 59, 'helped him through' his scare. 

Chris explained that the disease does run in his family and that his mum previously battled esophageal cancer as well. 

Speaking to TMZ, he said: 'I had a very difficult year and had a cancer scare which was pretty scary because my mum had esophageal cancer and Kim's dad had it.

'She helped me through it because her dad died from it and she knew a lot about it. 

'So when I got the scary news I thought I would be reassured by the doctor but I never got that positve from the doctor, he was silent. 

'I had test after test and I had to go under and have a more intense operation.'

Eventually, Chris got the good news, he added: 'Fortunately for me I didn't have cancer I had the cysts but because it was in my family they were incredibly worried.'

The British star, who has worked with a number of A-listers including JLo, Katy Perry, Sophie Vergara and Ariana Grande, has recently been busy promoting his debut book, Your Roots Don't Define You. 

He said the cancer scare made him 'rewrite' his work as he 'wasn't prepared to lose my voice before owning it first' and felt like he needed to be more honest to help people. 

In his new book, Chris admits there is a lot of insecurity he still deals with despite forging huge success with some of the biggest stars in the world.

'Working with A-listers [doesn't] cancel insecurity,' he shared with the Daily Mail. 'It just gives it a bigger audience and more people have an opinion about it.'

In his book, released on January 20 in the US, he explores the feelings of inadequacy and not letting the past dictate the future - admitting the process of writing the tome and reliving some of his childhood memories was challenging.

'The title in itself has a double meaning, obviously, because hair is my world, but really, I guess it is about identity,' he said.

He continued: 'You know your roots don't define you, it's about what happens when the version of you that you kept safe starts costing you your life.'

In 2009, he famously came out at the age of 26 after being in a relationship with his ex, Katie Katon, for almost a decade.

He later went on to embark on a whirlwind marriage to actor Lukas Gage, after tying the knot in Las Vegas in April 2023, with Kim Kardashian officiating.

The hair guru said writing the book, which took around a year, helped him put into perspective how his past - as a closeted man growing up in Northern England - has shaped who he is today.

Chris , who shares son Billy, 22, and daughter Kitty-blu, 20, with Katie, revealed that his kids read - and enjoyed - his book, which 'means the world' to the doting father.

'For so many years of my life, I abandoned myself, and I wasn't proud of myself when I was ashamed,' he admitted. 'And for them to be proud of me is my greatest achievement.'

Chris hopes his book motivates people to never stop trying to pursue the real them.

'It's never too late to transform your life and create your comeback,' he urged.