Pope Leo XIV, diagnosed with lung cancer, undergoes surgery. What is lung adenocarcinoma? 7 symptoms you should not ignore

Pope Leo XIV’s health continues to worry Catholics worldwide. Leo has been diagnosed with cancer after he underwent an operation to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, as per a medical report bulletin published by the Vatican. The diagnosis turned out to be lung adenocarcinoma. However, the Vatican steered clear of sharing details of the course of treatment or disease outlook. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Vatican confirmed that the operation took approximately 90 minutes and was completed successfully without any complications.

The 71-year-old has since been moved back to his room at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he is expected to spend the next week recovering. All his scheduled audiences have been called off until October 20.

According to the Vatican, doctors have not yet considered chemotherapy or any additional treatment, as they are awaiting the findings of further medical tests.


The Holy See’s press office also drew attention to the medical statement’s use of the term radical removal of the affected lobe. This wording suggested that surgeons had excised all the suspicious tissue, with the aim of removing any remaining cancerous cells and preventing the disease from persisting.

The Pope has no history of chronic health conditions and is physically active - he swims and plays tennis on a regular basis. This surgery comes ahead of an official Latin America tour scheduled for November 6-17, with stops planned across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

What Is Lung Adenocarcinoma?

According to the Cancer Center, adenocarcinoma is a cancer that originates in the glandular or secretory cells. Adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype of lung cancer. Lung adenocarcinoma develops when cells in the lung tissue, particularly those lining the airways and producing mucus, undergo cancerous changes. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, this type of cancer represents approximately 40% of all cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), making it one of the most common forms of the disease.

Adenocarcinoma originates in glands that secrete mucus.

What Are Some Risk Factors of Adenocarcinoma?

According to the Cancer Center, risk factors for adenocarcinoma include smoking, being exposed to secondhand smoke, diesel exhaust, etc.; drinking arsenic-contaminated water, etc can make you more likely to be diagnosed with adenocarcinoma.

Symptoms

Persistent cough that won’t go away.

Breathing problems

Chest pain

Constant fatigue or weakness

Difficulty in swallowing

Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite

Facial swelling

Cough that produces blood in the mucus

What Are The Survival Rates Of This Disease?

The prognosis and stage of lung cancer determine the survival rate. As stated by the American Society of Clinical Oncology: For localised NSCLC confined to the lung, the survival rate after five years is 63 percent. For individuals with NSCLC that has expanded outside the lung to nearby organs, the five-year survival rate is approximately 35 percent. When NSCLC has spread beyond the lungs and chest to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is 7 percent.