What to know about lung adenocarcinoma following Pope Leo's diagnosis
Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the most common types of lung cancer.
Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, one of the most common types of lung cancer, the Vatican said this week.
The 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery on Tuesday to have the lower lobe of his right lung removed. Doctors described it as a "successful" operation.
The Vatican said earlier this week that Pope Leo's recovery is expected to take about a week.
Here's what you need to know about lung adenocarcinoma, including how it's diagnosed and what treatment options are available.
What is lung adenocarcinoma?
Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer, accounting for roughly 40% of all lung cancer cases, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA).
The broader category of non-small cell lung cancer comprises roughly 80% to 85% of all lung cancers, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Lung adenocarcinoma begins in cells in the lung that make mucus, called epithelial cells, which line the surface of the lungs, the ACS says.
It is more likely than other lung cancers to be found before it has spread because it grows more slowly, the LCFA notes.
Who is at risk?
Cigarette smoking is the primary risk factor for lung adenocarcinoma. However, it is also the most common lung cancer in people who have never smoked.
The LCFA says lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer in women, with studies showing it is more frequently found in women than men.
Although lung cancer is generally considered a disease among people who are older, lung adenocarcinoma is more likely to occur in younger people than other types of lung cancer.
How is it diagnosed?
After a doctor performs a physical exam, including personal and family heath history, a number of diagnostic tests may be performed.
Patients may undergo one or more imaging tests to screen for abnormal lung masses including a chest X-ray, a CT scan, a PET scan or an MRI scan.
They may also undergo a biopsy, during which a small sample of lung tissue is removed and examined by a pathologist.
"Based on the clinical staging, what the PET scan and other tests show, a stage is determined, and that will determine the most important thing: what the appropriate treatment for that person is going to be," Dr. Inderpal Sarkaria, a professor in the department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, told ABC News.
What treatments are available?
Treatment depends on the type of lung cancer and how far it has spread. Additional testing will be performed to determine staging and tumor features including genetic mutations, which guide treatment decisions.
Treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy or a combination of these options.
"If it's a small tumor -- isolated in a lung, no evidence of lymph nodes being involved, and a patient that can tolerate the operation, which many can -- then an operation to remove the tumor is absolutely appropriate," Sarkaria said.
For more advanced stages, further treatment may be needed.
"Depending on the stage that's determined, any number of things might be appropriate, including chemotherapy, more commonly now immunotherapy, drugs that bolster the immune system to attack the tumors," he continued.
If part of surgery involves lymph nodes, doctors will determine if additional chemotherapy or immunotherapy -- or, less commonly, radiation -- may be needed, Sarkaria added.
What is the 5-year survival rate?
Five-year survival rates -- the percentage of those who lived five years after they were diagnosed with or started treatment for a disease -- "depends on the stage at which it's picked up," Dr. Hiren Mehta, an interventional pulmonologist at University of Florida Health, told ABC News. "The earlier [the] stage, the better the prognosis."
The 5-year relative survival rate for non-small cell lung cancer is 67% if the cancer has not spread outside of the lung, according to the ACS.
For the regional stage, meaning the cancer has spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes, the 5-year relative survival rate is 40%. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the rate is 12%, the ACS says.
How to lower risk
Many lung cancer patients don't have symptoms when the cancer is in its early stages. Mehta said that if patients wait to go to the doctor only when they have symptoms, the cancer may be in later stages and harder to treat.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force currently recommends yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan for those between ages 50 and 80 who smoke currently, have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history or have quit within the past 15 years.
"If you do smoke or have smoked, talk to your doctor and see if you are eligible for lung cancer screening," Mehta said. "Although the common association of lung cancer is with somebody who has smoked in the past, 20 to 30% of lung cancers can happen in some patients who have never smoked ... and so if you have never smoked in [your] lifetime, that doesn't mean you are immune to lung cancer."
He warned that people should stay vigilant.
"It's an ongoing discussion with your doctor and make sure that you talk to your doctor about your risks other than smoking," he said.
ABC News' Dr. Jennifer Miao contributed to this report.
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