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Pope's surgeon details operating on the "ideal patient" after lung cancer discovery "entirely by chance"
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer was discovered entirely by chance during examinations for unrelated reasons, with no prior respiratory symptoms, according to Dr. Stefano Margaritora, who performed the surgery.
- The tumor was located at the base of the right lung and was diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma during a routine operation that went smoothly without complications.
- The 71-year-old pope recovered well, being described as an ideal patient who resumed some work and held meetings within days of surgery, including a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- The pope was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital four days post-surgery to cheers from a large crowd and is scheduled for a trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November.
- Dr. Margaritora emphasized the importance of regular preventive checkups, noting that early-stage cancers like the pope's often show no symptoms and are frequently discovered incidentally.
