Prime Minister Netanyahu said he had specific treatment for early prostate cancer, and is now in excellent shape. On X (formerly Twitter), the 76 year old said doctors found a cancerous spot at a very early point and were able to remove it.
He explained that the spot showed up during normal checkups after a surgery for a non-cancerous enlarged prostate over a year ago. He also said the cancer hadn’t gone anywhere else.
Early-stage diagnosis and treatment
During a recent medical check, doctors found a very small area of trouble, less than a centimeter in size. They gave Netanyahu two possibilities: to keep watching it, or to have specific treatment.
He chose to be treated. He wrote that he went to a few quick treatments, read, and kept working, and the spot has completely disappeared. He expressed his thanks to the doctors and medical personnel at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
Official report and medical timeline
The Prime Minister’s Office released a formal medical statement which confirmed this order of events. It said he had successful surgery for a non-cancerous growth of the prostate at Hadassah Medical Centre on December 29th, 2024. Later, an MRI found a very small area that looked suspicious.
Later tests showed the cancer was in its early stages and hadn’t spread. The statement also said Netanyahu had a pacemaker put in during 2023. Netanyahu said he’s now healthy and in excellent condition after his treatment.
In his post, Netanyahu offered three clear assurances to the public:
– He is healthy and able to work
– He is in excellent physical condition
– The prostate issue was completely treated
Delay aimed at countering propaganda
Netanyahu said his yearly health report, which was originally scheduled for February, was delayed for two months. He said the reason for this was to avoid it coming out during the worst of the war, and not to allow the Iranian government to make even more untrue statements against Israel.
In March, when things were very tense with Iran, Iranian state news said he had died. He responded to this by posting a video of himself at a cafe in Jerusalem.
Political and public health context
Netanyahu is Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister, and intends to run for the position again in the next election, which will be by the end of October. He says he is continuing to work and is concentrating on the country’s most important needs.
Prostate cancer begins in the prostate gland, which is under the bladder. It’s a common cancer, and often can be cured if it’s found at an early stage. Netanyahu said the area of trouble was discovered very early, hadn’t spread and the targeted treatment has left no evidence of it.
What comes next
Netanyahu said this health issue is now resolved. He again said he is in excellent shape and fully engaged in his work.
Finally, he included a personal thank you to his doctors and all the medical staff. He ended by saying he hopes those injured in the current war will get better soon.
