Barnaby Joyce, the deputy leader of the Nationals, announced on the day after his re-election to the seat of New England that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo surgery on Monday. Joyce, age 58, revealed that he had not presented any symptoms but complied with his doctor’s recommendation to undergo a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Following the test’s elevated results, he underwent an MRI and biopsy, which confirmed the cancer diagnosis.
Prostate cancer ranks as the most common form of cancer in men, affecting one in eight individuals throughout their lifespan. Despite this, Joyce expressed his relief at having discovered the condition early, predicting a full recovery. He emphasized the high success rate of prostate cancer treatment when caught in its early stages, roughly 97%, and encouraged all men to be vigilant about symptoms and consider PSA testing.
Upon his brief hospitalization for surgery, Joyce plans to take a recovery break before resuming work. He strategically kept his condition private during the election campaign to prevent any distractions. After the surgery, he anticipates following strict rest instructions from his family, including refraining from activities such as fencing and working with cattle.
Joyce was reelected to represent New England for a fifth term on Saturday, securing 67.5% of the two-party-preferred vote, indicating a 2% swing in his favor. Despite not experiencing significant swings akin to their Liberal counterparts, the Nationals, as a party, risk losing their deputy leader, Perin Davey, from the Senate and failed to reclaim the NSW seat of Calare from independent MP Andrew Gee.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/04/barnaby-joyce-to-undergo-surgery-after-being-diagnosed-with-early-stage-prostate-cancer
