The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma following a scheduled thoracic procedure. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung, and tissue examination confirmed the cancer, according to the Holy See Press Office. The diagnosis was suspected based on pre-operative testing, and the Pope is reported to have no known history of smoking.
Lary Robinson, M.D., an oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, told Fox News Digital that the decision to perform a lobectomy suggests the disease was likely localized. "This is usually only done with people who have localized disease," Robinson said, adding that he hoped the cancer was stage 1. If the condition is indeed stage 1, Robinson noted there is a high chance of cure, estimating approximately 90% depending on tumor size. He emphasized that the direct path to surgery indicated there was likely no evidence the cancer had spread.
Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer in the United States, representing about 40% of all cases, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. It is also the most prevalent type among non-smokers. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 80% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking, Robinson noted that lung cancer still occurs among never-smokers. He cited estimates that 10% of male patients and 25% of female patients with lung cancer are never-smokers.
Robinson highlighted that non-smokers with lung cancer often present at a later stage than smokers or former smokers. "Unfortunately, probably over half of the people who are never-smokers with lung cancer come into stage 4 disease," he said. This higher proportion of advanced-stage diagnoses among non-smokers contrasts with the localized presentation suggested by the Pope's surgical approach.
Factors contributing to lung cancer risk in non-smokers include genetic predisposition and environmental exposure. Recent research published in the journal Science found that a rare genetic mutation in the EGFR T790M gene increased lung cancer risk by 25 times compared to those without the mutation. Among never-smokers, carriers of this mutation had about 62 times the odds of developing lung cancer compared to non-carriers. Robinson also identified exposure to environmental toxins such as diesel exhaust and radon, as well as heavy marijuana use, as additional risk factors.
The oncologist noted that early-stage lung cancer typically presents without symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are often related to the lungs, such as a persistent cough, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood. Unexplained weight loss and neurological symptoms like persistent headaches can also be indicators. Annual CT screening is generally recommended starting at age 50 for high-risk individuals, including current smokers with at least a 20 pack-year history and former smokers who quit within the past 15 years. Robinson stated that only about 15% of eligible people currently undergo screening, expressing hope for future advancements where blood tests could precede CT scans to improve detection rates.