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Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday provided more detail on his prostate cancer diagnosis and apologized for not being more transparent about what was happening to him. Speaking during his first press conference at the Pentagon since he was hospitalized, Austin said he was recovering well but is still getting physical therapy for leg pain.
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"I want to be crystal clear," Austin said. "We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis, and I should have also told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility."
He said new procedures have already been put in place to make sure that any lapses in notification don't happen.
Austin said in the future if the deputy secretary needs to assume the duties of his office, she and several White House offices will be immediately notified, including the White House Situation Room.
He added that the reason for that assumption of duties will be included in writing.
"I was being treated for prostate cancer," he said. "The news shook me, and I know it shakes so many others, especially in the Black community. It was a gut punch. And frankly, my first instinct was to keep it private."
Austin said there were no gaps in authorities and no risks to the department's command and control. He said at every moment he or the deputy secretary was in full charge.
Austin said he was offering this information as an explanation, but not as an excuse.
He said he apologized directly to President Biden, who has responded with the grace and warm heart that anyone who knows President Biden would expect."
"And I'm grateful for his full confidence in me," Austin said.
Austin said there's an ongoing internal review in the Department of Defense and an inspector general review that he said he fully supports.
He said on Dec. 22, he had a "minimally invasive procedure to cure me of my recently diagnosed prostate cancer. And then I hit some bad luck during what is usually a pretty easy recovery."
Austin said on Jan. 1 he felt severe leg pain and pain in the abdomen and hip. He said that evening an ambulance took him to Walter Reed.
Doctors, he said, found that he had several issues that needed treatment including a bladder infection and abdominal problems.
The next day, he said he experienced fever, chills and shallow breathing. Austin said the medical staff transferred him to a critical care unit for several days.
He said the deputy secretary assumed the functions of his office and senior defense department staff was informed.
"And I never directed anyone to keep my hospitalization from the White House," Austin said.
He resumed his duties Jan. 5 from the hospital, a time when he said he was functioning well mentally but not so well physically.
Austin said one in eight men will get prostate cancer and one in six Black men will get it.
"And so I'm here with a clear message to men, especially older men. Get screened. Get your regular checkups, Prostate cancer has a glass jar. If your doctors can spot it, they can treat it and beat it."
He said the side effects that he experienced are "highly, highly unusual."
