Former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, who has been in poor health for a long time, may be headed for the US for further treatment.

The 79-year-old politician has reportedly been diagnosed with cancer of the bone marrow and has been seriously ill for about a year.

"We are taking him to the US for further consultations on his treatment," said an aide at his residence. "We are finalising the details."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last week offered to fly him to the US and fund his treatment.

Chandra Shekhar was discharged June 9 from the Apollo Hospital where he was admitted for a week. According to his relatives, he was taken to the hospital on account of a back pain.

A Lok Sabha MP from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, Chandra Shekhar was the eighth prime minister of India, for a short tenure of seven months.