After delay, doctors say US defence chief Austin treated for cancer

WASHINGTON: US protection secretary Lloyd Austin was admitted to intensive care final week for issues from prostate most cancers surgical procedure, docs mentioned Tuesday, after he confronted criticism for ready days to tell the White Home about his prolonged hospital keep.
The 70-year-old’s failure to reveal his hospitalization left prime officers at nighttime about his standing as Washington struggles to include the fallout from the Israel-Hamas struggle, which has sparked violence in opposition to American forces in Iraq and Syria in addition to assaults on worldwide delivery.
Austin’s “prostate most cancers was detected early and his prognosis is superb,” two docs from Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Heart mentioned in a press release launched by the Pentagon.
The most cancers was detected on account of routine screening and Austin underwent a minor surgical process to deal with it on December 22, returning dwelling the next day, they mentioned.
However he was readmitted to the identical hospital on January 1 because of issues “together with nausea with extreme stomach, hip, and leg ache. Preliminary analysis revealed a urinary tract an infection,” necessitating additional remedy.
“He continues to make progress and we anticipate a full restoration though this is usually a gradual course of. Throughout this keep, Secretary Austin by no means misplaced consciousness and by no means underwent basic anesthesia,” the docs mentioned.
Whereas Austin was hospitalized on January 1, the Pentagon didn’t make any public announcement till 4 days later, and in addition waited to inform President Joe Biden and Congress.
A few of Austin’s authorities have been transferred to Deputy Protection Secretary Kathleen Hicks on January 2, however she was not informed that he was hospitalized till two days later, Pentagon spokesman Main Normal Pat Ryder informed journalists on Monday.
The US Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan was knowledgeable on January 4, bringing the White Home into the loop, whereas Congress was not informed till the day after that — the identical day the Pentagon made a public announcement.
Some Republican lawmakers have referred to as for Austin to resign or be fired, however the White Home has stood by the secretary, and Ryder mentioned the secretary has no plans to resign.