What to know about Pope Leo’s lung cancer

Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Surgery for Early-Stage Lung Cancer

Earthguardiansonline.com – Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic after doctors identified a lung nodule as pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Surgeons removed the cancerous nodule and the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung, the Vatican said.

The discovery appears to have come at an important point in the disease’s course. Speaking to a crowd Sunday, the pope said physicians had found the growth at “a very early stage,” a factor that can significantly affect treatment options and the outlook after surgery.

What pulmonary adenocarcinoma is

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer and represents roughly 40% of lung cancer diagnoses. In many cases, it develops and spreads more gradually than small cell lung cancer, although every patient’s condition depends on the tumor’s features and whether it has moved beyond the lung.

Smoking raises the risk of lung cancer, but it is not the only contributor to adenocarcinoma. Radon gas is the leading cause apart from smoking, while exposure to particle pollution is also considered a risk factor. This cancer is frequently diagnosed in people who have never smoked. It is also seen more often among women, younger patients and people of East Asian ancestry.

Doctors can face challenges detecting adenocarcinoma because it may not cause obvious symptoms early on. That late discovery helps explain why it remains a major cause of cancer deaths. In Pope Leo’s case, the reported early and localized nature of the growth may be encouraging.

“The fact that Pope Leo had a localized case of adenocarcinoma with an early-stage detection works in his favor,” Mora said. “Especially after surgical removal.”

Why a lung lobe was removed

Surgery is commonly the initial treatment for a localized non-small cell lung cancer. The goal is to remove the tumor along with enough surrounding tissue to reduce the likelihood that cancer cells remain in the lung.

The right lung contains three lobes, while the smaller left lung has two. When cancer is confined to one lobe, surgeons may remove that entire section in a procedure known as a lobectomy. Pope Leo’s operation involved the lower lobe of his right lung.

Removing a lobe reduces total lung capacity, but the body can adapt over time. The remaining lung tissue and the opposite lung can take on more of the work of breathing. The adjustment can be especially noticeable during the early recovery period, when pain, healing and reduced capacity may make deep breaths or activity more difficult.

“Initially, it will be a little harder for him to breathe until the left lung starts to compensate for it,” Mora said.

Dr. Juanita Mora, the national medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association, said Pope Leo’s health and activity level may support his recovery. The 71-year-old pope does not smoke, plays tennis and exercises his lungs. Respiratory therapy exercises will likely be part of his recuperation, and avoiding respiratory infections will be particularly important after losing part of a lung.

His predecessor, Pope Francis, also lived with reduced lung capacity after having a right-side lobectomy following a severe tuberculosis infection in his youth. That history illustrates that many people continue to live active, fully functional lives after the procedure.

What doctors will assess next

Patients usually spend several days in the hospital following a lobectomy while their oxygen levels, vital signs and early recovery are monitored. Once stable, recovery generally continues at home. Pain is expected after this kind of chest surgery, and the pace of healing can vary.

The next pathology results will play a central role in deciding whether Pope Leo needs treatment beyond surgery. Doctors will examine the removed lung tissue and nearby lymph nodes. If lymph nodes contain cancer cells, or if there are signs that the disease has spread, the medical team may consider additional treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation.

Genetic and biomarker testing will also help guide any further care. These tests can identify characteristics of a tumor that may make it responsive to targeted treatments or immunotherapy. Mora noted that biomarker testing has substantially improved lung cancer care, though insurance coverage remains uneven in the United States: only 15 states require insurers to cover the testing even for people with lung cancer.

Whether the pope can make a planned trip to Latin America next month will depend in part on the findings from those tests and on his immediate recovery. For now, the main questions are whether the cancer was isolated and whether surgery fully addressed it.

“We’re hoping, though, that it’s just an isolated cancer where he’s one and done, in which now we see a survival rate of 80% to 98% when it comes to surgical removal,” Mora said of Leo. “But now we will have to wait for these tests.”