Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further Treatment After Lung Cancer Surgery Doctors

Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further Treatment After Lung Cancer Surgery Doctors Pope Leo XIV will not require further cancer treatment following surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung, his medical team has announced, after final tests confirmed that the disease was localised. The announcement was contained in a medical statement released by the Vatican on Wednesday, October 21, following the completion of laboratory examinations on tissue removed during the pontiff’s operation. According to the doctors, the results confirmed that the tumour was pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer, but showed that the disease had not spread beyond its localised area. “The results confirmed that the tumour was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localised,” the medical team said, adding that a subsequent oncology assessment had established that no further treatment was necessary. The 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery on October 13, during which surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung to eliminate the cancerous growth. The operation followed the discovery of a lung nodule, which Pope Leo had disclosed publicly on October 11. Subsequent examinations established that the growth was malignant. The pope’s lead surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, confirmed the findings after reviewing the final histopathology and molecular testing results from the removed tissue. The medical update represents a positive development for the pontiff, who was discharged from hospital on October 17 and has gradually resumed his public engagements. On Wednesday, he returned to St Peter’s Square for his weekly general audience, where he thanked worshippers for their prayers and support during his recovery. Although no further cancer treatment has been recommended, continued medical monitoring is expected to remain important as the pope recovers from surgery. The announcement also comes ahead of his planned visit to South America from November 6 to 17, with scheduled stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. While his surgeon has indicated that there are no clinical reasons preventing the trip, questions remain about whether the pontiff will need to adjust his schedule to accommodate his recovery. The Vatican’s latest update provides reassurance about the outcome of the surgery, although the pope’s medical team will continue to oversee his recovery.