What is lung adenocarcinoma? Oncologist available for interviews

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What is lung adenocarcinoma? Oncologist available for interviews

'The reported early detection of the cancer is encouraging but not conclusive'

CHICAGO - A Northwestern Medicine lung cancer specialist is available for print and broadcast interviews to discuss lung adenocarcinoma. On Tuesday, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer, after the pope underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung at a hospital in Rome.

The Vatican said the surgery was successful and there were no complications, but the cancer's stage and whether additional treatment will be needed is unclear.

Dr. Mohamed Abazeed, co-leader of the lung cancer program at Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, is available to speak with media today. Email Ben Schamisso at [email protected] to schedule an interview.

Below is a Q&A with Abazeed to assist in your reporting:

How serious is lung adenocarcinoma?
"Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer and, importantly, occurs in both smokers and nonsmokers. Its seriousness depends primarily on the stage at diagnosis. When detected early and confined to the lung, it is often curable with surgery. The reported early detection of Pope Leo's cancer is encouraging but not conclusive."

What does recovery from this type of lung surgery typically look like, especially for an older adult?
"A lobectomy removes one of the lung's five lobes. The pope underwent a minimally invasive, video-assisted procedure, which generally allows faster recovery than traditional open surgery. Patients typically spend several days in the hospital, with recovery progressing over several weeks and sometimes months. At 71, age alone is not a major barrier to recovery; baseline lung function, overall fitness and postoperative complications are more important."

What can we tell about the pope's prognosis based on the diagnosis and the surgery he underwent?
"The decision to proceed with surgery is encouraging because it suggests the treating physicians believed the cancer could be completely removed. However, successful surgery alone does not necessarily mean the cancer has been cured. The final pathology, particularly tumor size, lymph node involvement and surgical margins, will determine the stage and whether additional treatment is necessary. Many patients with early-stage lung cancer achieve excellent long-term outcomes, but it is too early to estimate the pope's individual prognosis."