EXPLAINED: Pope Leo’s lung cancer prognosis after surgery
Oct 14, 2026 · 4 min · 3 segments
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Speakers
Fraser BrimsGuest
Ben O'SheaHost
Oct 14, 2026 · 4 min · 3 segments
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fraser BrimsGuestBen O'SheaHost
Well, lung cancer is a very serious condition, although it would appear from what we've been told that it's been found at an early stage for Pope Leo and that the treatment he's had from the sounds of things is actually with curative intent, i.e. there's a good chance that he will actually now be cured of that condition, but it will remain to be seen.
And typically with this type of cancer, is it the sort of situation where if you cut out the affected tissue, then the prognosis is typically good?
But one critical issue is whether or not the cancer spreads to the glands that are in the middle of the chest.
And that can often dictate whether or not we can offer curative treatments such as surgery or not.
But again, as I say, from what Little I've seen from the reports around Pope Lee, it does sound like he's had an operation that was with the intent to cure his condition.
Yeah, the Vatican isn't the most forthcoming institution when it comes to releasing information.
But in terms of, you know, I guess, you know, what we know about lung cancer, the Pope wasn't a smoker.
How common is it for someone who's a lifelong non-smoker to develop a condition like this?
So things like exposure to air pollution and other environmental exposures are particularly relevant for Australia.
It would be things like being exposed to asbestos dust and silica dust, that sort of thing.
Like if lung cancer is in the family, then that does raise somebody's own risk as well within there.
So it is an important message that anybody with lungs can get lung cancer, although it is also fair to say that it is most commonly found in those that have smoked or come across things like asbestos, silica and that kind of thing in the past.
And so now for the Pope, recovering from this surgery, Any surgery is serious, but I imagine having a lobe of your lung lopped off is particularly so.
Look, he should, assuming that the rest of his lungs are healthy, he should make a good recovery.
Well, lung cancer is a very serious condition, although it would appear from what we've been told that it's been found at an early stage for Pope Leo and that the treatment he's had from the sounds of things is actually with curative intent, i.e. there's a good chance that he will actually now be cured of that condition, but it will remain to be seen.
And typically with this type of cancer, is it the sort of situation where if you cut out the affected tissue, then the prognosis is typically good?
But one critical issue is whether or not the cancer spreads to the glands that are in the middle of the chest.
And that can often dictate whether or not we can offer curative treatments such as surgery or not.
But again, as I say, from what Little I've seen from the reports around Pope Lee, it does sound like he's had an operation that was with the intent to cure his condition.
Yeah, the Vatican isn't the most forthcoming institution when it comes to releasing information.
But in terms of, you know, I guess, you know, what we know about lung cancer, the Pope wasn't a smoker.
How common is it for someone who's a lifelong non-smoker to develop a condition like this?
So things like exposure to air pollution and other environmental exposures are particularly relevant for Australia.
It would be things like being exposed to asbestos dust and silica dust, that sort of thing.
Like if lung cancer is in the family, then that does raise somebody's own risk as well within there.
So it is an important message that anybody with lungs can get lung cancer, although it is also fair to say that it is most commonly found in those that have smoked or come across things like asbestos, silica and that kind of thing in the past.
And so now for the Pope, recovering from this surgery, Any surgery is serious, but I imagine having a lobe of your lung lopped off is particularly so.
Look, he should, assuming that the rest of his lungs are healthy, he should make a good recovery.
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