Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer highlights growing number of nonsmokers diagnosed with the disease—and younger people too
- On Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer, sparking discussion about rising disease rates among people who have never smoked.
- About 20% of women diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked, as researchers cite genetics, environmental exposures like radon and air pollution as potential causes.
- Current screening guidelines focus on long-term smokers, often leaving nonsmokers undiagnosed until later stages, while symptoms like fatigue or chest pain are frequently overlooked in women.
- Targeted therapies and immunotherapies have improved prognosis for patients with specific molecular changes, and early-stage diagnosis, like the Pope's, offers the highest potential for surgical cure.
- Researchers estimate the United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines could increase screening eligibility by 40% for younger patients, as recognizing diverse risk factors remains essential for timely care.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer warns of increasing numbers of non-smokers diagnosed with Adobe Stock disease When many people think of a typical patient with lung cancer, they usually imagine an elderly man who smokes. But the profile of lung cancer has changed. In the last 15 years, more women, people who have never smoked and young people are being diagnosed with lung cancer. In fact, lung cancer is the main cause of cancer death among women, and …
Sydney Morning Herald
Lung cancer rates in non-smokers like Pope Leo are rising. How can you catch it early?
In Australia, lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer, killing more men and women every year than breast and prostate cancer combined, and the fifth most diagnosed cancer. Here’s what to know about this deadly disease.
Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of death from cancer, but that rate is half of what it was in the 1990s, partly because newly developed treatments are working.
A change in the profile of lung cancer forces a rethinking of prejudices, diagnoses and prevention strategies
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