Doctors say Pope Leo's lung cancer prognosis is 'very good' after surgery

Minimally invasive approach should let pontiff travel within two weeks

Pope Leo underwent 90 minutes of surgery in Rome on Tuesday to treat adenocarcinoma — a common cancer that, while worrisome if caught late, has a track record of high rates of survival with early intervention. The operation ultimately removed a larger portion of his right lung than the “nodule” the pontiff had identified as his target over the weekend. Outside medical experts described the surgical approach and the pope’s overall condition as pointing to a favorable outlook.

Dr. Vin Gupta, a pulmonologist and board member of the American Lung Association, said the choice of surgery as the first treatment tool suggests clinicians believe the disease was caught at an early stage.

“The fact that surgery was the first tool that they utilized is a really good sign,” Gupta said. “It suggests that they think this is early stage.”

Gupta said the decision to remove a larger portion of the right lung is not inherently a cause for concern. Such procedures are routine, Gupta said, and the pope’s baseline health works in his favor.

“People have parts of their lungs removed all the time for all sorts of reasons, and they recover just fine,” Gupta said. “And in his case, he’s pretty robust at baseline from a health standpoint.”

Pope Leo, 71, continues to exercise regularly, including a weekly tennis game — a routine that should help his recovery.

Dr. Jonathan Villena Vargas, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, said the minimally invasive nature of the procedure should support a relatively quick return to activity.

“He had a minimally invasive surgery,” Villena Vargas said. “When we do this, because we do this all the time, most patients are allowed to travel about two weeks after the surgery.”

The pope’s calendar has been cleared of events through October 20. Barring further updates from the Vatican, Pope Leo is expected to travel to South America in November, visiting several countries including Peru, where he lived for decades.