"But he didn't smoke": how the pope got lung cancer, explained in Israel

Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery to remove part of his lung due to cancer, despite never having smoked. Israeli doctors explained how the disease can develop in non-smokers: risk factors include secondhand smoke, air pollution, radon, asbestos, and genetics. The article also describes symptoms, diagnostic methods, and modern approaches to lung cancer treatment.

Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after being diagnosed with a common form of lung cancer. The pontiff is 71 years old and has never smoked. Israeli doctors in a Ynet publication from October 18 explained how lung cancer can develop in non-smokers. Lung cancer is the deadliest oncological disease in the world: in 2022, it was detected in approximately 2.5 million people, and 1.8 million died. Main symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, blood in sputum, and weight loss. About 85% of cases are the most common type of the disease, 10–15% are aggressive forms linked to smoking. Although smoking remains the main cause, risk factors for non-smokers include secondhand smoke, air pollution, radon, asbestos, and genetics. The article also describes diagnostic methods (low-dose CT, PET-CT, MRI) and modern treatment approaches, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Prognosis depends on the stage: early detection can lead to full recovery.