Lloyd Austin undergoes surgery for prostate cancer

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent surgery to treat prostate cancer. This was announced through a statement from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The information was made public after controversy arose due to the lack of information from the Pentagon to the White House about Austin's condition.

"On December 22, 2023, after consultation with his medical team, he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure called a prostatectomy to treat and cure prostate cancer. 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," said a statement published on social media and signed by John Maddox, director of Traumatology, and Gregory Chesnut, director of the Prostate Disease Research Center of the Cancer Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The statement detailed that after the operation on Jan. 1, Austin was admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with complications derived from the procedure on Dec. 22, including nausea with severe abdominal, leg and hip pain. Initial evaluation revealed a urinary tract infection. On Jan. 2, the decision was made to move him to the ICU for close monitoring and a higher level of care. Further evaluation revealed abdominal fluid accumulation that affected the functions of his small intestine.

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The secrecy surrounding Austin's hospital admission generated controversy, causing some people, such as former President Donald Trump, to call for his removal.

"Failed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin should be fired immediately for improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty," Trump said.

Austin himself acknowledged through a statement that he should have better managed the communication surrounding his admission and assumed full responsibility for the decision to hide it, even from the president:

“I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure,” Austin said.