The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 29, 2025
Today: March 29, 2025

Pentagon chief Austin's cancer prognosis is 'excellent,' no further treatments needed, doctors say

Pentagon Chief Cancer
January 26, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) โ€” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austinโ€™s doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center say his prostate cancer prognosis is excellent and no further treatments will be needed after seeing him for a follow-up appointment Friday.

Austin, 70, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and spent two weeks in the hospital following complications from a prostatectomy. Despite the complications, โ€œhis cancer was treated early and effectively, and his prognosis is excellent,โ€ his doctors said Friday.

The disclosure of the treatment Friday stood in contrast to the long silence about his hospitalization, which was kept secret for days not only from the public but from President Joe Biden.

Austin is expected to return to work at the Pentagon on Monday, a defense official said on the condition of anonymity to share details of Austin's return that were not yet announced.

โ€œBeyond planned physical therapy and regular post-prostatectomy follow up appointments, he has no planned further treatment for his cancer,โ€ Walter Reed trauma medical director Dr. John Maddox and Murtha Cancer Center director Dr. Gregory Chesnut said in a statement Friday.

Austin made his first public appearance earlier this week during a virtual Ukraine contact defense group meeting. Although visible only through a web camera. Austin appeared slightly gaunt.

Austin had what the Pentagon described as โ€œminimally invasive surgical procedure," called a prostatectomy to treat the cancer on Dec. 22. He was under general anesthesia during this procedure and had transferred some authorities to his deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks. He was discharged the next day and continued to perform his duties.

Austin was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed on Jan. 1 in extreme pain and was admitted to the intensive care unit. He stayed there for two weeks.

Austin did not inform the White House or even his deputy that he'd been hospitalized and only told Biden about his diagnosis more than a week after he'd been admitted to the ICU. The incident has prompted both an internal Pentagon review and an IG review into its notification procedures. Both reviews are ongoing.

Related Articles

DOGE gains access to US Institute of Peace after Trump administration overhauls board First photo of Pope emerges since hospitalization Pope Francis hits 3-week mark of hospitalization after giving world a sign of his frailty Presidential historian says Trump had better night than Democrats
Share This

Popular

Celebrity|Health|Sports

No longer sick, Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits a pair of '160-pound homers' as he works to gain weight

No longer sick, Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits a pair of '160-pound homers' as he works to gain weight
Education|Health|Political|Sports|US

Transgender teens fight back against Trump's ban on participation in girls' sports

Transgender teens fight back against Trump's ban on participation in girls' sports
Health|Science|US

Top vaccine official Peter Marks forced out at FDA, WSJ reports

Top vaccine official Peter Marks forced out at FDA, WSJ reports
Australia|Economy|Election|Health|Political

Australia's Albanese starts election campaign touting healthcare credentials

Australia's Albanese starts election campaign touting healthcare credentials

Health

Business|Crime|Health|Technology|US

FBI investigating cyberattack at Oracle, Bloomberg News reports

FBI investigating cyberattack at Oracle, Bloomberg News reports
Crime|Economy|Health|Political|US

Oregon city at heart of high court homelessness ruling blocked from enforcing camping ban

Oregon city at heart of high court homelessness ruling blocked from enforcing camping ban
Education|Food|Health|Political|US

Kennedy applauds West Virginia's food dye ban, soda restrictions

Kennedy applauds West Virginia's food dye ban, soda restrictions
Business|Health|US

US FDA approves Sanofi's bleeding disorder therapy

US FDA approves Sanofi's bleeding disorder therapy

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In