Victor Davis Hanson Shares Health Update, Says Recovery Ongoing After Cancer Surgery

Veteran conservative commentator Victor Davis Hanson offered supporters a candid update Monday on the serious health battle that forced him to step away from his podcast and regular media appearances late last year, striking a tone of gratitude mixed with realism about the road ahead.

In a post shared on X, Hanson began with encouraging news, revealing that surgeons successfully removed a cancerous lung mucinous adenoma carcinoma along with the lower right lobe of his lung in early January. Hanson described the operation as a success, crediting doctors for the outcome and expressing appreciation for the support he has received since first disclosing his illness.

However, Hanson said his recovery has not been as smooth or as fast as he had hoped. He explained that his progress has been slowed by a post-operation aneurism, which has caused a cascade of complications. Those issues include low red blood cell counts, persistent fatigue, and bouts of arterial fibrillation, all of which have limited his stamina and delayed his return to normal activities.

“The bottom line is that I’m hoping to come back as soon as possible,” Hanson wrote. “But I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back to near normal.” He made clear that while he remains optimistic, he is being realistic about the uncertainty surrounding his recovery timeline.

Hanson also provided more detail about the specific cancer he is fighting, explaining that this form of lung cancer is unusual, particularly for a non-smoker. According to Hanson, the cancer has a rare genetic or mutation profile, and even after successful surgery, it has a recurrence rate of roughly 40 percent. That reality, he said, is weighing heavily on his next medical decisions.

As a result, Hanson is now considering whether to undergo chemotherapy and immunotherapy as preventative measures. He noted that those treatments may offer only a modest benefit, estimating a 5 to 10 percent edge in reducing the risk of recurrence. Hanson said he plans to conduct a careful cost-benefit analysis before deciding, taking into account how quickly he regains strength and energy in the coming weeks.

“I’ll do a cost-benefit analysis, depending on how quickly I regain energy, to determine whether to start the preventative drug regimens,” he wrote, underscoring that quality of life remains a key factor in his decision-making.

For now, Hanson said he will remain largely out of the public spotlight, though he may occasionally post on X when he is feeling up to it. He closed his message by thanking readers for their concern and prayers, echoing the appreciation he expressed at the beginning of the post.

Monday’s update follows Hanson’s initial announcement in December, when he revealed he was stepping away from his show due to a “serious” health problem. At the time, he did not disclose the nature of the illness. That detail came later, in mid-January, when Hanson shared that he was recovering from lung cancer surgery and making progress.

While his return to full activity remains uncertain, Hanson’s update reassured supporters that he is continuing to fight through the challenges with determination, transparency, and gratitude for the audience that has stood by him during a difficult chapter.