Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Hospitalized for Prostate Cancer Treatment
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is currently receiving treatment for prostate cancer and was hospitalized due to complications. The cancer was discovered in early December and Austin underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat it. On January 1, he was readmitted to the hospital due to complications and was found to have a urinary tract infection. The Pentagon faced scrutiny for not disclosing Austin's hospitalization earlier, and President Biden was informed about Austin's prostate cancer diagnosis on Tuesday morning.
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Surgery
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is currently being treated for prostate cancer, according to a statement from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The cancer was discovered in early December, and Austin underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure called a prostatectomy on December 22.
The procedure was successful, and Austin recovered uneventfully. The statement mentioned that his prostate cancer was detected early, and his prognosis is excellent. Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men, but when caught early, it often has a favorable outcome.
Complications and Hospitalization
On January 1, Defense Secretary Austin was readmitted to the hospital due to complications. He experienced severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain, accompanied by nausea. After examination, it was determined that he had a urinary tract infection.
The statement from Walter Reed did not provide further details about the complications or the severity of the infection. However, it mentioned that Austin remained conscious throughout the eight days of hospitalization and did not require general anesthesia during this period.
Delayed Public Disclosure and President Biden's Knowledge
The Pentagon faced criticism for not notifying the public about Austin's hospitalization earlier. It was revealed that President Joe Biden, senior national security officials, and even Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks were unaware of Austin's hospitalization until days after he was admitted.
President Biden himself learned about Austin's prostate cancer diagnosis on Tuesday morning, hours before it was publicly disclosed. The White House chief of staff informed him, according to a National Security Council spokesman. The delay in disclosing the information raised questions about transparency and the decision-making process regarding informing higher-ranking officials.
