JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will undergo surgery next week to have a benign enlargement of his prostate removed, his office said on Friday.
The 74-year-old leader has been experiencing discomfort and pain in his pelvis and legs, and several hospital tests, including an MRI and a biopsy, revealed that his prostate gland had become enlarged, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.
“The Prime Minister’s Office announces that the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is scheduled to undergo surgical removal of benign prostate enlargement next week,” the Israeli government said in a statement.
The surgery is expected to take place at a Jerusalem hospital and is not considered life-threatening, the statement added. Netanyahu’s office did not specify which hospital he would be using or when the surgery would take place, citing privacy considerations.
BPH is a common condition that affects many men as they age, and is often treated with medication, lifestyle changes or, in some cases, surgery. It is not known to impact a person’s lifespan or quality of life, but can cause discomfort and urinary issues.