Victor Davis Hanson Shares Health Update on Heart Condition After Cancer Surgery

Hoover Institution senior fellow Victor Davis Hanson, 72, stated during an interview on 'The Megyn Kelly Show' that he is experiencing a heart condition following surgery for lung cancer. Hanson explained that he is dealing with episodic tachycardia, which causes his heart rate to increase suddenly from 70 to 120 beats per minute, leading to shortness of breath.

He attributed this to trauma from the surgery, including the cutting of the pulmonary artery, anemia, dehydration, and the loss of 60% of his blood volume.

Hanson underwent surgery on Dec. 30 to remove a tumor, according to a Jan. 3 post on X by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He had announced on Dec. 26 via his podcast, 'Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,' that he would have an operation for a serious medical condition that doctors could not diagnose at the time.

The cancer was identified as a KRAS G12R mutation, which Hanson said he had for about two years following a collapsed lung. He noted disagreement among oncologists about the tumor's size and stage, with some describing the mass as the size of a softball but the cancerous interior as golf ball-sized, and stages ranging from one to four.

Hanson stated that the mutation is deadly, but the cancer was not found in the lymph nodes or lung lining. He is undergoing blood biopsies every 120 days, with each negative result reducing the chance of recurrence. In a Feb. 2 post on X, Hanson reported a 40% chance of recurrence, which would be untreatable. He added that his heart condition prevents him from working on his farm.