US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken to hospital on New Year’s Eve as a result of complications from prostate cancer, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement said the cancer was discovered in early December. On Dec. 22, he underwent a “minimally invasive surgical procedure” called a prostatectomy to treat the cancer. The statement read:
He was under general anesthesia during this procedure. Secretary Austin recovered uneventfully from his surgery and returned home the next morning. His prostate cancer was detected early, and his prognosis is excellent.
On January 1, Austin was re-hospitalised due to complications “including nausea and severe pain in his abdomen, hips and legs”. He was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, the statement said.
The Pentagon faced intense questions after it was revealed Friday that he was admitted to Walter Reed on Jan. 1 and had been in the hospital for several days without notifying the public. It was subsequently reported that President Joe Biden, senior national security officials and even Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks, who took over Austin’s duties, were unaware of the defence secretary’s hospitalization until three days after he was admitted to the hospital.
At a briefing on Tuesday immediately after the statement was released, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters that Austin “continues to recover well and is in good spirits.” He said the defence department would provide daily updates on Austin’s condition. Ryder said he has not spoken to Austin and does not know why he hasn’t shared details about his illness sooner, but he said prostate cancer and its treatment is a “deeply personal matter.”
Asked if Austin would have to step back from his duties as defence chief, such as a busy travel schedule, Ryder said Austin “continues to oversee Defence Department operations around the world” and is “actively engaged in his responsibilities”.
