Lloyd Austin, 70, apologizes for secret hospital visit: Defense Secretary says he is still recovering from prostate cancer treatment and admits he was wrong for wanting to keep health battle private

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologized Thursday for keeping his hospitalization secret and said he is still recovering from surgery for prostate cancer.

“I have apologized directly to President Biden. “I told him I deeply regret not letting him know immediately,” he said at a news conference at the Pentagon.

“I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis, I should have told my team and the American public. I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people. Now I want to make it very clear that there were no gaps in authority and no risk to the department’s command and control.”

It was the first time he has spoken publicly about his medical scare and it comes as he tries to recover from the scandal of keeping it secret. Austin, 70, looked gaunt and noticeably thinner as he answered questions about his illness.

His press conference comes the day before he will join President Joe Biden at Dover Air Base for the dignified transfer of three American service members killed in Jordan this weekend.

He said that in the future, his deputy and the White House Situation Room would be notified immediately if he has a medical problem.

The retired general described his prostate cancer diagnosis as a “gut punch” and said it “shook” him personally.

‘I was treated for prostate cancer. The news shocked me and I know it shocks so many others, especially in the black community. It was a punch,” he said.

“Honestly, my first instinct was to keep it private. I don’t think it’s news that I’m quite a private man. I don’t like burdening others with my problems. It’s just not my way. But I learned from this experience that taking on this type of work means losing some of the privacy most of us expect. “The American people have a right to know if their leaders are facing health issues that could affect their ability to perform their duties, even temporarily,” he said.

He said he had not instructed any staff to keep his condition secret.

“We have failed in this regard,” he noted.

He also said he never considered resigning, even when Republicans and some Democrats called on him to resign.

“It’s more about privacy than secrecy,” he said.

“Cancer, period, is very private.”

‘In my case, I should have let the boss know. That was a mistake and once again I apologize to him for not doing so.”

He declined to discuss details about why his condition was being kept secret, noting that the Pentagon was conducting an investigation.

The defense secretary also admitted to getting around the massive Pentagon complex in a golf cart.

“By the way, that’s the first time I used that golf cart. I think it’s quite neat. My leg will continue to get better. The doctors are confident that this will happen. My PT specialist, who I think is a sadist, continues to work hard for me and he is also confident. “It’s just going to take time because of the nature of the injury,” he said.

He noted that he could not say how long his recovery would take.

‘They cannot express numbers in days or weeks, but incremental improvements. “I won’t be ready for the Olympics, but I will improve,” he said.

Austin underwent surgery for prostate cancer on December 22 and left the hospital the next day.

He returned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1, but did not tell President Joe Biden where he was until January 4.

Austin did not reveal the cause of his surgery – his prostate cancer – until January 9 after facing days of questions about his hospitalization. Biden heard about it the same day as the general public.

The Minister of Defense was released from hospital on Monday after fifteen days of recovery.

He admitted Thursday that he missed an opportunity to educate people, especially men, about prostate cancer.

“I also missed an opportunity to send a message about an important public health issue.” I would like to solve that now. I was diagnosed with a highly treatable form of cancer. A fairly common one. One in eight American men will develop prostate cancer, and one in six black men will develop it. And so I’m here with a clear message to other men, especially older men: get screened and check up regularly,” he said.

His complications included “nausea with severe abdominal, leg and hip pain.” The early diagnosis was a urinary tract infection, but further testing showed that Austin had a fluid buildup in his abdomen that was impairing the function of his small intestine.

Both Democrats and Republicans condemned Austin for the secrecy. Some called for his resignation.

Biden supported his defense secretary, but warned him against an error of judgment.

The White House is investigating the matter. Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients sent a memo to Cabinet secretaries, instructing them to keep the White House informed if they might be unable to perform their duties.

The Pentagon’s inspector general is also investigating the mishandling of Austin’s secret hospitalization.

Every year, eight in ten men and six in ten black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. The risk for men increases as they get older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the most common cancer among men in the United States.

The five-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer in the United States is 97%.

Austin will work from home as his recovery continues.

He will need to do physical therapy and regular follow-ups, but he is expected to make a full recovery, his doctors said. He does not require any further treatment for his cancer.

“I am grateful for the excellent care I received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and would like to thank the excellent physicians and nursing staff for their professionalism and excellent support,” Austin said in a statement.

“As I continue to recover and perform my duties from home, I am eager to make a full recovery and return to the Pentagon as soon as possible,” he said.