Barnaby Joyce, the National Party MP and former deputy prime minister of Australia, has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo surgery.

The announcement came shortly after he decisively retained his seat in the regional New South Wales electorate of New England during the recent federal elections.

The diagnosis followed an elevated result from a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

Subsequent medical evaluations, including an MRI and biopsy, confirmed the presence of prostate cancer.

Joyce, aged 58, indicated that he is scheduled for surgery on Monday and anticipates a brief hospital stay.

He expressed optimism regarding his prognosis, noting that early detection of prostate cancer greatly enhances treatment success rates, stating, "Prostate cancer, if you get it early, is very, very treatable; in fact, about 97 percent successful."

He remarked that had he believed his condition to be grave, he would have considered resigning from his parliamentary position, but affirmed that his medical team considers him fortunate to have detected the cancer at an early stage.

During the election campaign, Joyce chose to keep his diagnosis private, citing concerns that it could overshadow the political contest.

"I knew it would turn into a bit of a circus," he explained, emphasizing his desire for the focus to remain on the campaign issues.

In the recent election, the Labor Party led by Anthony Albanese emerged victorious, resulting in a significant reduction of seats for the Coalition, which includes Joyce's National Party.

In a show of support, Labor MP Tanya Plibersek commended Joyce for publicly addressing his health challenges, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about prostate cancer and encouraging other men to undergo testing.

She described Joyce's decision as "very brave," underlining the potential impact of his disclosure on public health discussions.