Health
As Pope Leo XIV Recovers From Surgery, Diagnosis Brings Attention to Lung Cancer
Pope Leo XIV’s cancer diagnosis has been met with an outpouring of support from Catholics around the globe, praying for a quick and painless recovery.
The pope was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, confirmed during the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung.
The right lung has three lobes and the left has two. After one lobe is removed, the remaining lung tissue can gradually compensate, especially in otherwise healthy, physically active people. Leo is known for his interest in sports, including weekly tennis matches and swimming.
The pontiff resumed his regular diet, began walking and celebrated Mass in the hospital Wednesday as he recovered, according to the Vatican. Questions remained about whether the cancer had spread, while Peru’s president suggested Leo might have to alter his planned visit to Latin America next month.
Blood tests and a chest X-ray showed the 71-year-old pope was recovering normally, his two doctors said.
“The Holy Father underwent respiratory physiotherapy and has begun walking in his room. He resumed his regular diet and had breakfast and lunch,” said Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal doctor, and Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the head thoracic surgeon at Gemelli hospital. “Recovery is proceeding as planned.”
The Vatican said late Wednesday that the pope had celebrated Mass with his secretaries in the afternoon in a special chapel set up for him on the 10th floor of the hospital.
Experts said some of Leo’s lymph nodes would also have been removed and tested to determine whether the cancer had spread. Those results have not so far been made public.
Importance of Early Detection and Treatment
When people have lung nodules, they often don’t have symptoms like a cough or shortness of breath, said Dr. Kalvin Lung, a medical volunteer for the American Lung Association and surgeon with the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute.
“Sometimes we see it [cancer] in people who are very healthy and they’ve also never smoked, so they don’t have traditional risk factors,” said Lung. “The only way to find these things early is to screen with imaging.”
Adenocarcinoma develops in glandular cells and can occur in several parts of the body, including the lungs, breast, stomach and intestines.
About 10% to 20% of those who are diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States have never smoked, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Secondhand smoke and pollution from industrial sources can contribute to risk, Lung said.
Reaction to Diagnosis
“This was something that was unexpected for all kinds of reasons,” said the Rev. Paddy Gilger, assistant professor of sociology at Loyola University Chicago. “Pope Leo, as popes go, is relatively young, just turning 71 years old. He’s also a pretty athletic guy. He’s been known to be playing tennis and swimming over the summertime on his days off that he’s been taking.”
Before undergoing surgery, Leo had maintained a busy schedule, including meetings with presidents of bishops’ conferences from around the world to discuss priorities inherited from Pope Francis.
The Associated Press contributed.
