US Defence Secretary Austin Diagnosed With Cancer

On January 1, Lloyd Austin was hospitalised.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is being treated for prostate cancer. It was detected at an early stage.

This is stated in an official statement from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, reports CNN.

Austin's cancer was discovered in early December. As early as December 22, he underwent a "minimally invasive surgical procedure" called a prostatectomy to treat the cancer.

"During this procedure he was under general anaesthetic. Secretary Austin underwent the surgery without incident and returned home the next morning. His prostate cancer was detected at an early stage and his prognosis is optimistic," the statement said.

On January 1, Austin was hospitalised with severe abdominal and leg pain and nausea and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. In response to the question of why the secretary did not disclose the diagnosis, the Pentagon spokesman said it was a "deeply personal" situation.