In a recent statement released by Walter Reed National Military Center officials, it has been revealed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December. The 70-year-old underwent a minimally invasive procedure to treat and cure the cancer, with the officials stating that he recovered uneventfully from the surgery.

The officials emphasized that Austin's prostate cancer was detected early, resulting in an excellent prognosis. However, complications arose from the procedure, leading to his admission at Walter Reed on January 1. The Defense Secretary experienced severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain, which was later diagnosed as a urinary tract infection.

Following the diagnosis, Austin was transferred to the intensive care unit on January 2 for close monitoring and a higher level of care. Doctors at Walter Reed discovered abdominal fluid collections that were affecting the function of his small intestines. To address this issue, a tube was inserted through his nose to drain his stomach, and non-surgical drain placement was used to drain the abdominal fluid collections.

In the statement, officials confirmed that Austin's infection has cleared, and he has steadily progressed throughout his hospitalization. They anticipate a full recovery, albeit acknowledging that the process may be slow. It was noted that Austin never lost consciousness and did not undergo general anesthesia during his treatment.

The news of Austin's hospitalization came as a surprise to many, as the Defense Secretary and his aides waited several days before notifying the White House and key Pentagon officials. The public was only made aware of his hospitalization on Friday evening, when Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder released a statement.

It was further revealed that senior officials at the National Security Council were not informed about Austin's hospitalization until Thursday, even though he had been admitted on Monday. Austin's duties were temporarily transferred to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who was unaware of his hospitalization until a later date.

The timeline of events has raised questions, prompting the Pentagon's lawyers to investigate whether any laws were violated by the delayed notifications to U.S. leaders and Congress.

With a team of medical professionals closely monitoring his recovery, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains on the path to a full recovery. The public will continue to await updates on his progress as he works toward resuming his duties.