Austin treated for early prostate cancer, serious intestinal complications: Pentagon

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was treated for prostate cancer in December, which led to a urinary tract infection and serious intestinal complications, the Pentagon said Tuesday after days of questions — revealing details about his secretive hospitalization and the botched notification process that followed.

On Dec. 22, Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and underwent minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat and cure prostate cancer, said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. Austin was under general anesthesia during the procedure, Ryder added.

The next day, Austin was discharged and went home, Ryder said. However, on Jan. 1, Austin was admitted again with complications from the Dec. 22 procedure determined to be a urinary tract infection.

On Jan. 2, Austin was transferred to the intensive care unit after an evaluation revealed abdominal fluid collections impairing the functions of small intestines, Ryder said.

“He continues to make progress and we anticipate a full recovery although this can be a slow process,” Walter Reed said in a statement. “During this stay, Secretary Austin never lost consciousness and never underwent general anesthesia.”

The White House learned about Austin’s condition three day after he was hospitalized, and President Joe Biden was made aware of his prostate cancer diagnosis only Tuesday morning, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at the White House press briefing.

“Nobody at the White House knew that Secretary Austin had prostate cancer until this morning and the president was informed immediately after we were,” Kirby said Tuesday.