Pope Leo's lung tumor raises questions about cancer risk for nonsmokers

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after a scheduled surgery, the Vatican announced Tuesday.

After undergoing thoracic surgery, where surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung, examination of the tissue confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma .

The diagnosis had been suspected based on testing conducted before the procedure, according to the Holy See Press Office.

POPE LEO DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER AFTER SURGEONS REMOVE PART OF RIGHT LUNG, VATICAN SAYS The Pope reportedly does not smoke and does not have a known history of smoking.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that most lung cancer deaths (80%) are caused by smoking.

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer, representing about 40% of all lung cancers in the U.S., according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.

It is also the most common type among non-smokers.

NEVER SMOKED A CIGARETTE? YOU COULD STILL BE AT HIGHER RISK FOR LUNG CANCER In an interview with Fox News Digital, Lary Robinson, M.D., an oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, shared his surprise regarding the Pope’s health status , as the lung nodule was "felt to be malignant." About 80% of lung cancers occur in people who smoke or have smoked, said Robinson, who has not treated the Pope.

However, he noted that lung cancer also occurs among never-smokers — including an estimated 10% of male patients and 25% of female patients.

"But [the Pope] had surgery and had a lobectomy, so this is usually only done with people who have localized disease, and presumably he had localized disease.

And hopefully that's a stage 1 cancer," the doctor added.

If the Pope’s cancer is stage 1, there is a "high chance" of cure — about 90%, depending on the size of the tumor, the oncologist said.

The fact that he went straight to surgery suggests there was likely no evidence that the cancer had spread.

HEALTHY DIETS SPARK LUNG CANCER RISK IN NON-SMOKERS AS PESTICIDES LOOM "We'll have to wait for the pathology to determine … whether he had a stage 1 cancer and whether he needs any additional treatment afterward," Robinson said.