Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Yields Positive Prognosis Despite Surgical Complications
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent surgery for prostate cancer in December, experiencing subsequent complications that required intensive care However, his medical team and independent experts are optimistic about his overall prognosis
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent surgery to address prostate cancer in late December and subsequently experienced complications that required intensive care, according to doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday. However, both his medical team and independent experts are optimistic about his recovery.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testifies at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill October 31, 2023 in Washington, DC.
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, 70, underwent minimally invasive surgery on December 22 to remove prostate cancer, known as a prostatectomy. However, he was readmitted to the hospital on New Year's Day and placed in intensive care on January 2 after doctors discovered a buildup of fluid that was affecting the function of his small intestines during a follow-up evaluation.
The fluid was drained, and his doctors says he is on the mend.
"He continues to make progress and we anticipate a full recovery although this can be a slow process," the statement says.
Prostate cancer is riskier for Black men
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States, after non-melanoma skin cancers. Approximately 13% - or 1 in 8 - American men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and about 2.5% - or 1 in 41 - will succumb to the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. William Dahut, the chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, pointed out that the risk of prostate cancer is not distributed evenly. He highlighted that Black men are 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than White men and have more than twice the likelihood of dying from the disease.
"Its a greater incidence but also a much greater mortality," Dahut said. "So generally, around the age of 40, Black men should talk to their physicians about screening."
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Men with advanced prostate cancer are currently unable to access life-prolonging medication due to a shortage. Generally, prostate cancers grow at a slow rate, often taking a minimum of 10 years for a tumor that is limited to the prostate to result in noticeable symptoms.
A recent study has demonstrated that many men diagnosed with prostate cancer can be carefully monitored with regular medical tests and may never require aggressive treatments such as surgery, radiation, or hormone blockers, without compromising their chances of survival.
Dr. Otis Brawley, a professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, stated, "Approximately half of men diagnosed with prostate cancer can be observed and may never require treatment because, although they have cancer, it is not aggressive and will not be life-threatening."
However, he emphasizes that the choice between treatment and observation is deeply individual.
"Tomorrow, I will inform three men that they have prostate cancer. I would recommend observation, but undergoing surgery or radiation is also acceptable," Brawley stated. He also advises some men to undergo surgery or radiation, but in certain cases, he would not recommend observation.
"We dont know where [Austin] falls on that spectrum," he said.
Cancer survival after surgery is high
Dr. Oliver Sartor, chief of the Genitourinary Cancer Disease Group at the Mayo Clinic, expressed relief that Austins cancer was identified through a blood test and subsequently treated with surgery.
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Sartor stated that the most severe cases of prostate cancer are those that have spread and are inoperable. He also mentioned that the fact the patient underwent surgery is a positive sign. According to ZeroCancer.org, the chance of surviving at least five years after a diagnosis of metastasized prostate cancer is only 32%. However, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is nearly 100% if detected in its early stages.
Sartor stated that the surgery Austin underwent, which involved the removal of his prostate, significantly reduces his risk of mortality within the next five years.
"It's likely 1% or lower. It is extremely uncommon for someone who has had prostate surgery to pass away within the next five years," Sartor explained.
Prostate cancer tends to be more aggressive in African American men, which may explain why Austin opted for surgery, according to Sartor.
Dr. Michael Stifelman, chief of urology at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, stated that complications like Austin's following prostate surgery are "extremely rare," occurring in only about 2% of surgical cases.
The fluid buildup described by Austins doctors can happen several ways,he said.
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In a prostatectomy, surgeons must cut and then reattach the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. "If the reconnection of the bladder to the urethra isn't flawless, urine can sometimes leak into the abdomen," Stifelman explained.
Fluid buildup can occur in another way when surgeons remove lymph nodes, which are situated near the prostate and serve to purify the blood. If these lymph nodes are not completely sealed after surgery, it can result in a lymphatic leak, as explained by Stifelman. Additionally, the removal of tissue in the body can lead to fluid leakage and the formation of a seroma.
All three of these would heal over time, Stifelman said.
"He can expect a full recovery," Stifelman said.
CNNs Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report.
