What to know about lung adenocarcinoma following Pope Leo diagnosis

The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Robert Van Haren, MD, was featured in a Medical News Today article discussing the diagnosis, risk factors, symptoms and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma in light of Pope Leo XIV's recent diagnosis.

“Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 40% of cases,” Van Haren, a University of Cincinnati Cancer Center researcher and associate professor of clinical surgery in the UC College of Medicine, told Medical News Today. “It is often first detected as a small nodule or abnormality on a CT scan of the chest,” he explained. “If the finding is suspicious, additional testing may include a PET scan, a biopsy, or surgery to remove the nodule and examine it under a microscope.”

Van Haren noted that lung cancer can often develop without any noticeable symptoms, making it difficult to detect.

“The most important message is that people should not wait until they develop symptoms to think about lung cancer screening,” Van Haren said. “Screening with a low-dose CT scan can identify lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage in people who meet the eligibility criteria."

Read the Medical News Today article.

Read more about Van Haren's recent research that found only 15% of eligible American adults have discussed lung cancer screening with their doctors, highlighting the need for more awareness.

Featured photo at top of doctors reviewing data while a patient is screened for lung cancer. Photo/UC Health.