Pope Leo XIV has had more medical exams and started respiratory physical therapy following the lung cancer surgery that removed the lower lobe of his right lung. Source: OSV News.
In the first medical update provided by the Vatican since yesterday’s revelation of the Pope’s lung cancer diagnosis, his doctors said overnight that the Pope’s “recovery is proceeding as expected” and he has begun walking around his hospital room.
“This morning, the Holy Father underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled following the surgery. The results confirm a normal postoperative recovery: the values are within the normal range for the type of surgery performed,” the joint statement by Dr Stefano Margaritora, the Pope’s surgeon, and Dr Luigi Carbone, the Pope’s personal doctor, said.
“The Holy Father underwent respiratory physical therapy and has begun walking around his room. He has resumed his regular diet, having had breakfast and lunch. His recovery is proceeding as expected.”
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists that Pope Leo was “in good spirits” the day after surgery.
Mr Bruni said that before having surgery, Pope Leo had undergone a robotic bronchoscopy with biopsy, a chest CT scan with contrast, and a PET scan which indicated the need for the surgery on Tuesday.
Pope Leo was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday for the lung surgery, following his disclosure on Sunday that recent medical examinations had revealed a “well-contained” lung nodule that had been “detected at a very early stage”.
According to Vatican News, post-operation tests will be conducted on the removed tissue in the coming days.
In response to a question of how long the wait might be to receive any results as to whether cancer remains beyond what was removed during the Pope’s surgery, Mr Bruni said, “You have to ask a doctor for the timing of those. It usually takes five, 10, 15 days depending on the situation.”
Pope Leo is expected to remain in hospital for at least one week.
Mr Bruni said that there were no changes to announce at this time to the Pope’s expected length of stay in the hospital or to the Pope’s scheduled trip to Latin America on November 6-17.
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Pope Leo XIV starts respiratory physical therapy a day after lung cancer surgery (By Courtney Mares, OSV News)
