The US Secretary of Defense suffers from prostate cancer

The secret hospitalization, which not even Joe Biden knew about, was due to a post-surgery infection

The United States Secretary of Defense has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Lloyd Austin was hospitalized earlier this year, in a case that sparked controversy because the US President was not aware of his hospitalization. However, the White House did say that Joe Biden was only informed on Tuesday of the Pentagon chief's diagnosis.

“It is not ideal for a situation like this to continue for so long without the commander in chief knowing,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a news conference, amid controversy over the lack of communication. Hospital admission for the Defense Director.

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center announced that the top official in the US Department of Defense, and the Army's second in line to command, underwent surgery on December 22, after a laboratory confirmed the diagnosis.

Lloyd Austin ended up being hospitalized on January 1 with a urinary tract infection, following the same surgery.

The clinic where the politician is being treated says progress is being made and he is expected to make a full recovery, although the process is expected to go slowly.

Lloyd Austin never lost consciousness and never had to undergo general anesthesia during the procedure performed on January 2. Postoperative symptoms included, among others, nausea with abdominal pain, and hip and leg pain.

The Minister of Defense's admission to the hospital was kept secret, even from the President of the United States, for several days. Joe Biden was not informed of the case until about a week later.

Asked why the secrecy surrounding the diagnosis was maintained, a Pentagon spokesman said it was a “very personal” situation. Maj. Gen. Pat Rader said the Biden administration “will continue to work to make sure we get a handle on this.” [o assunto] In the most transparent way possible.”