Pope Leo XIV is recovering in a Rome hospital after doctors removed part of his right lung and confirmed he has lung cancer.
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Channel 2’s Karyn Greer reports on reaction from metro Atlanta Catholics and spoke to a doctor from the American Cancer Society who explains why early diagnosis saves lives.
Atlanta Catholics are praying for the pope’s recovery. The news has hit home for many of the faithful.
“Today I’ll be praying for him. I’m sure it will be part of the attentions. And then that’s it, you know. God takes care of everything,” Jean-Marc DeFrance said.
“The reports that we’re getting from the Vatican and hearing is that they’re very optimistic. The surgery went very well, and the holy fathers recuperating very well. He’s going to be there for about a week and resting,” said Monsignor Frank McNamee of Cathedral Of Christ The King in Atlanta.
Doctors say the growth was found during routine testing and appears to have been caught early. But the American Cancer Society says lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.
“Lung cancer is the No. 2 combined cancer for men and women in the United States,” said Dr. Bruce Waldholtz of the American Cancer Society. “And sadly, it’s the No. 1 killer of Americans. Each year, more Americans die from lung cancer than breast, colon, prostate combined.”
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The ACS estimates more than 229,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer and nearly 125,000 will die from it. It accounts for 1 in 5 cancer deaths nationwide.
“Only 1 out of 5 people who are eligible to be screened are currently screened. That screening involves a yearly low dose CAT scan for people age 50 to 75 or 80,” Waldholtz said.
The pope’s doctors have not said if he will be undergoing chemotherapy or other treatment, as more test results are expected.
Doctors at the American Cancer Society say November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
National Lung Cancer Screening Day is Nov. 14, so talk to your doctor if you think you should be screened.
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