Pope Leo’s lung cancer prognosis could depend on these factors, doctors say

October 14, 2026 / 1:47 PM EDT / CBS News

Pope Leo XIV was recovering Wednesday, a day after having a lobe of his right lung removed and confirming a diagnosis of lung cancer.

Leo had blood tests and a chest X-ray that showed a "normal post-operative course," the Holy See Press Office said. "The values are within the expected range for the type of procedure performed."

The surgery removed what the pope and Vatican described as a localized nodular lesion.

"Those types of lesions can actually be removed and even cured just by surgery alone," CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook said.

But the Vatican has not shared the stage of cancer, or whether it has spread, which would help determine if Leo needs further treatment.

Here's what multiple doctors, who are not involved in the pope's treatment, told CBS News about his possible prognosis.

Leo was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of non-small cell lung cancer, doctors say.

"It's very common and also generally a very good prognosis when found early on," Dr. Kalvin Lung, a thoracic surgeon at the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute, told CBS News 24/7 on Tuesday.

The surgery Leo…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/