Defense Secretary’s Secret Surgical Procedure Paves the Way for More Open Dialogue About Prostate Cancer

On January 9, The Pentagon released a statement indicating that Austin had made an emergency trip to Walter Reed’s intensive care unit on Jan. 1 because of complications from a procedure required to alleviate complications related to his earlier surgery.

And while Biden has since declared that he remains confident in Austin’s ability to perform his duties at a time when America finds itself involved in defense missions on several fronts, the controversy that continues to follow the defense secretary is his ill-advised decision to breach protocol and alert the appropriate officials of his hospitalization.

However, keeping his surgical procedure and hospitalization a secret has led, perhaps unintentionally, to a long-needed and more open and honest conversation about the impact of prostate cancer, particularly among Black men who disproportionately represent those who suffer from the disease and who often fail to be diagnosed or treated until options for successful surgery and the expectation of continued quality of life have significantly decreased.

In a public statement, Leon Panetta, former Defense secretary and White House chief of staff in several Democratic administrations, said that while he understood Austin’s decision to maintain silence about his diagnosis, it was not in keeping with his high position as Pentagon chief.

“The last thing you want to do is blindside the most important person in the country, the president,” Panetta said. “It’s embarrassing,” adding that Austin took “a hell of a risk” with national security.

To circumvent similar problems in the future, The White House has initiated a review of the notification procedures that Cabinet secretaries must follow if they’re unable to perform their duties. Still, the question that remains – the issue at hand – is what motivated Austin to be secretive about the medical procedure and what leads men, Blacks in particular, to be so reluctant to have open and honest discussions about prostate cancer.

Steps to take for longer, healthier lives.
The disease, which routinely strikes men without any apparent symptoms until well into the illness, other than the need to go to the bathroom more frequently, impacts African American men at a higher rate than whites. Blacks are much more likely to develop prostate cancer – one in six Black men will develop the disease in his lifetime – compared to one in eight men overall. Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with – and 2.1 times more likely to die from – prostate cancer than white men. Medical experts believe the disproportionate rates can be attributed to either genetic factors, health disparities, or both.

However, despite Black men facing such odds, stigma related to prostate cancer, as well as the embarrassing side effects which include urinary incontinency or sexual disfunction, are cited by health officials and patients as the reasons that silence about the disease remains the norm, even though prostate cancer represents one of the most treatable forms of cancer. With early detection, between 90 and 95% of those who undergo surgery will have long, healthy lives.

So, what should Black men do?
According to an official from the Prostate Cancer Health Education Network, Blacks should consider joining clinical trials and research studies as the biggest barrier “seems to be a lack of awareness.” Black men may also want to consider increasing screening for this disease after reaching the age of 40, based on data released from healthline.com.

Prostate cancer, caused by excessive growth of cells in the prostate gland – part of the male reproductive system – is a slow-growing cancer compared to other forms and is highly treatable when diagnosed in its early stage.

In New Jersey, medical facilities that include Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark and RWJBarnabas Health, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, are among the facilities in the state that meet the highest standards in prostate cancer research, treatment, prevention and education. Due to medical advancements, options for prostate cancer treatment include clinical trials, radiation therapy techniques and complex surgical procedures.

In recommendations released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men are advised to know their body, know the risks and symptoms and get checked regularly.

Finally, the CDC notes that because of the stigma associated with prostate cancer, it is not unusual for men to feel shameful or “less of a man” because of the prostate glands function linked with sexual performance.

“Women need to encourage the men in their lives to talk more openly about prostate health,” the CDC said.