Victor Davis Hanson Shares Update After Cancer Surgery

Victor Davis Hanson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, recently opened up about a near-miss he experienced during cancer surgery on his social media platform. In a podcast episode titled “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” he discussed undergoing surgery for a significant medical condition that, at the time, eluded diagnosis.

On December 26, he recounted complications that arose post-surgery when doctors removed a cancerous tumor. He expressed gratitude for the supportive messages he received from followers. “I appreciate all the wonderful expressions of concern. In response to many inquiries and detailed questions, I want to provide a quick update,” he stated. “About a month ago, I had a successful resection of my mucinous adenoma carcinoma in the right lower lobe of my lung, but I quickly developed a post-operative aneurysm and bleeding.”

Hanson explained that an emergency second procedure was necessary to stop the bleeding, which required extended anesthesia and around five blood transfusions. “Over the past month, I’ve faced a low red blood cell count and fatigue, along with episodes of arterial fibrillation, which have complicated my recovery,” he shared.

Reports from January 3 indicated that the surgery took place on December 30. Although some scans showed positive results, Hanson cautioned that there remains a risk of the cancer returning. He noted a unique aspect of this lung cancer type in non-smokers, stating that it has a rare genetic profile and tends to recur in about 40 percent of cases, despite negative results from removed lymph nodes and adjacent samples.

“Chemotherapy and immunotherapy don’t seem particularly effective against this mutation, though they might reduce recurrence by 5-10%,” he added. “So I’m weighing the benefits and risks of starting preventive medication based on how quickly I can regain my strength.”

Previously, in an email to former National Review publisher Jack Fowler, Hanson mentioned he had battled the flu and other health issues like sinusitis before his cancer diagnosis, which he referred to as “pseudopneumonia.”

“I want to return to my routine as soon as possible,” Hanson concluded. “However, it’s uncertain when I might feel anything close to normal again. In the meantime, I hope to share updates on days when I’m feeling better.”