Pope Leo XIV’s recent lung cancer diagnosis and surgery are drawing attention to the importance of early detection and the need for people at increased risk to talk with their doctors about screening.

Although the diagnosis has raised concerns about the pontiff’s health, medical experts say there is an important takeaway for the public: Lung cancer does not always cause symptoms in its early stages but finding it before it spreads can significantly improve a person’s chances of successful treatment.

Priya Andanamala, MD, a medical oncologist at the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria, Illinois, specializes in lung cancer. She says the pontiff’s case underscores why people at increased risk should not put off screening.

“As sad as the news is, I think it encourages all of our patients that are under a high-risk category to get that screening because if we are able to identify these lesions at an early stage, we are able to cure most patients. We’re able to cure them with surgery and chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy,” Dr. Andanamala stresses.

Pope Leo underwent a lobectomy, a procedure that removes one lobe of the lung. The lungs contain multiple lobes, with three in the right lung and two in the left. The surgery can help doctors determine the type of cancer, assess whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes and identify characteristics that can guide further treatment.

Dr. Andanamala says the information gathered during surgery and subsequent pathology testing helps doctors determine whether additional treatment may be beneficial.

While the pontiff’s complete pathology findings and cancer stage were not available at publication time, Dr. Andanamala emphasizes earlier-stage lung cancers can often be treated with the goal of curing the disease. The appropriate treatment and prognosis depend on factors including tumor size, lymph node involvement and the cancer’s molecular characteristics.

A personalized approach to care

That molecular profiling allows for what she calls a more personalized approach to cancer care.

“Trying to determine what biomarkers the cancer has and understanding the molecular landscape, there are many different mutations that, thankfully, we have approved targeted therapy for that are highly effective. So, all of these can be found with comprehensive molecular profiling that we run on the surgical specimen.”

That profile can also help determine if a patient is eligible for certain clinical trials.

Rachael Davis, MD, a physician at OSF HealthCare who specializes in lung conditions, says people should also understand that finding a lung nodule does not automatically mean they have cancer.

“In the Midwest, many people have lung nodules that are not cancer.” Dr. Davis explains, “There’s a fungus in our soil called histoplasmosis that predisposes people to lung nodules, so the rates of benign, meaning non-cancerous or not malignant, lung nodules is much higher in the Midwest than in other parts of the country.”

Doctors evaluate nodules based on factors such as size, growth over time, appearance and location. Comparing current scans with older imaging can help determine whether a nodule is concerning and whether it requires monitoring, a biopsy or additional evaluation.

Know if you have risk factors

Smoking remains a major risk factor for lung cancer, but it is not the only one. Radon exposure, workplace exposure to certain chemicals and dusts, secondhand smoke, asbestos and family history can also contribute to risk.

Dr. Davis says people with a strong family history of lung cancer, particularly among relatives who never smoked, should discuss their circumstances with their primary care provider.

“Most cases of lung cancer are completely asymptomatic,” Dr. Davis stresses. “There are no symptoms early, and so if we wait until there's symptoms in a patient, we've waited too long.”

For people who meet established eligibility criteria, annual low-dose CT scans are the standard screening approach. At OSF, Dr. Andanamala says providers are also offering the First Look lung blood test at 49 locations as another way to help reach certain people at risk.

“It is currently not an alternative for a low-dose scan, but if this is something that is easier for patients to come in for, and if we’re identifying something that is concerning, then typically we’re following up with further testing.”

Illinois has considerable room to improve screening participation. According to the American Lung Association, only about 17% of eligible people in Illinois receive lung cancer screening compared with a national rate of approximately 20%.

Screening for early detection can improve treatment outcomes

Screening rates within OSF are higher.

“If the Pope’s case teaches us anything, it’s that we need to get screened for lung cancer. OSF is a national leader in lung cancer screening at 50% systemwide, but there’s still 50% of our qualified patients who are not being screened,” says Ryan Luginbuhl, vice president of the oncology service line at OSF HealthCare.

To date, 275 people have undergone the First Look blood test at OSF, and 133 were referred for further evaluation through a CT scan. To date, 76 people referred, completed scans. Of those, six were referred for more testing, and of them, two are seeing oncologists. One has received a lung cancer diagnosis.

OSF is also one of the largest medical provider in the Midwest offering robotic bronchoscopy. Dr. Davis says the minimally invasive procedure allows for less painful and more accurate lung biopsies.

“We’re able to biopsy multiple lung nodules at the same time during the same procedure and reduce the need for the patient to come back for multiple procedures.”

This next-level approach is also allowing for use of fluorescent dye during surgery to locate and highlight nodules and spare valuable, non-cancerous lung tissue, improving outcomes and patients’ lung capacity.

Pope Leo’s diagnosis serves as a reminder that even people who appear healthy can develop lung cancer. The most important next step is to understand your risk, talk with a primary care provider and determine whether screening is appropriate.

Find out if you are a candidate for lung cancer screening with this short assessment.

Learn more about the full range of services available at OSF Cancer Institute.

Video clips with Dr. Priya Andanamala

Video clips with Dr. Rachael Davis

B-roll-Pope Leo's lung cancer diagnosis

For Mark Segobiano, the hardest part of his prostate cancer journey came before treatment ever began.

It was hearing the word “cancer” again.

Mark had already battled acute promyelocytic leukemia years earlier, so when blood work and prostate testing revealed an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, the news brought back familiar fears. He and his wife, Cindy, had learned firsthand how quickly a health concern could become something much more serious.

The Bloomington, Illinois, home inspector had been experiencing more frequent urination, particularly at night. Rather than dismiss the changes, he and Cindy decided to have them checked.

The testing led to a prostate cancer diagnosis in October of 2021, and because of the location of the tumor, surgery was not an option. Mark and Cindy’s hearts fell upon hearing that news.

Cindy Segobiano, however, says it was so comforting that within days, Mark had a treatment plan.

“We got to Dr. Gomez who referred us to Dr. Stang, and we had a plan immediately,” she remembers. “That to me was such a blessing that we had immediate attention and an immediate plan. The staff was so confident.”

Under the treatment from Kyle Stang, MD, a radiation-oncologist with OSF HealthCare, Mark underwent treatment using the advanced form of radiation known as modern intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with image guidance (IGRT). It is designed to precisely target a tumor while limiting exposure to surrounding tissue.

“It was a gamechanger for us to be able to be treated in our own hometown. I just remember that day we had such a comfort zone knowing that hey, ‘we got this.’”

Mark underwent daily treatments for several weeks. The process required plenty of preparation, including drinking large amounts of water, but he says the care he received from the medical team at the OSF Cancer Center in Bloomington helped make an otherwise difficult experience more manageable.

“The staff over there was just unbelievable … so friendly, so warm and inviting. They made you feel very comfortable even though you were going through a process you really didn’t want to go through. I think that has a lot to do with your comfort zone as well – the staff around, and they were fantastic,” Mark recalls.

The treatment targeted the tumor without causing the kind of surrounding damage Mark had experienced with his earlier cancer treatment. When he was done with the targeted radiation, Mark returned for follow-up appointments and received encouraging results when in June of 2022, he was declared cancer-free.

His recovery was not without challenges. Fatigue was the biggest hurdle, and he took medication during the recovery period. But overall, he says the treatment itself was comfortable and his energy gradually returned.

On his final treatment day, the staff gathered to celebrate with him, ringing a bell and giving him a hat marking him as part of “Team Sego.”

For Mark, the experience reinforced the importance of paying attention to his health and encouraging other men to do the same.

His message to other men during this Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is straightforward: Don't assume you're invincible. It’s better to be proactive than reactive, especially when a simple blood test can provide preliminary results.

Don’t ignore symptoms

• Needing to pee more often or urgently, especially at night
• Trouble starting a urine stream or a weak and interrupted flow
• Feeling like the bladder is not completely empty
• Pain or burning during urination

Other signs

• Blood in the urine or semen
• Painful ejaculation or new or sudden erectile disfunction
• Deep pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or pelvis that does not go away

Mark Segobiano acknowledges that men can sometimes be reluctant to seek medical care, particularly when symptoms seem minor or they otherwise feel healthy.

“Don’t be afraid to say, ‘Yeah, I need to go get checked out,’ whether it’s something small, because small things turn into big things and you don’t want them to get to that point,” says Mark. He adds, “I would highly suggest that if you're at a stage in your life, and we all know what stages those are, that you go ahead and get checked out.”

The experience has also changed Mark's perspective on everyday health. He is now more mindful of his body, medical appointments and the importance of staying proactive.

Most of all, he credits his family, his faith and the medical professionals who guided him through the diagnosis and treatment.

For Mark, cancer is not something that simply disappears from his thoughts after treatment ends. But neither is the gratitude he feels for having caught the disease, received treatment close to home and had his family beside him throughout the journey.

The OSF Cancer Center in Bloomington is part of the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute network.

Video clips with Mark and Cindy Segobiano

B-roll-OSF Cancer Center in Bloomington

The OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute is about treating more than a person’s cancer.  In the year since it opened its doors in Peoria, Illinois, the premiere treatment center has developed a personalized approach to help people more easily and quickly get answers.

The comprehensive OSF Cancer Institute opened in February of 2024 as the main hub of an integrated cancer network across OSF HealthCare, with patients receiving care near home when possible. It has already far exceeded expectations, with 70,000 patient interactions. The rapid access approach is a way to get individuals started on their diagnostic and treatment journey as quickly as possible because when it comes to cancer, no one wants to waste time.

Sarah Ince, BSN, RN, director of Contact Center operations at OSF OnCall, the digital health arm of OSF HealthCare says oncology leaders who have witnessed challenges for individuals with cancer have provided valuable input in the collaborative process to design a seamless entry point. Together with select members from an OSF Innovation performance improvement team, health IT and others across the OSF Ministry, the team started with benchmarking with the best of the best cancer institutes across the country.

Ince says the new rapid access model provides a central point of contact for the patient.

“They're seeking care, they're confused, they're anxious, they've maybe just received a cancer diagnosis," Ince explains. “So being able to get our patients to us quickly and effectively. So being able to give them different means – a portal, a phone call, that one central phone number to get to us, to allow patients to get where they need.”

In some cases, patients are waiting for a referral from their primary care provider or an emergency department doctor, and they want to know where that stands. In other instances, patients received a diagnosis but don’t know the next steps.

Mandy Luczkowiak, (pronounced luh-KOH-ee-ack), MSN RN, manager of Contact Center operations at OSF OnCall, says patients can call (844) OSF-HOPE or (844) 673-4467 to be connected immediately with an access coordinator who can check on the status of that referral, and assist with questions regarding supportive services.

“And they feel like, oh my gosh, it started. The journey now has started. I have this person that I've spoken to, I've told them all the things I need to tell them, and they're going to take it from there.”

Luczkowiak says the goal is to get patients booked within 24 hours for a telephone appointment with a nurse who has an oncology background. During that appointment, the nurse will learn more about the patient’s story and medical history, then they gather all records that could be relevant to the patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan.

“So, if we have a patient who is in Florida X amount of months a year, they might have had imaging done there, they might have had treatment there. We’re gathering all that information, so the providers are really excited that the first time they see that patient – that first visit, everything is there.” 

To date, the access advocates and nurses from OSF OnCall have had nurse visits with patients and entered more than 445 referrals based on individuals’ diagnosis and needs. Referrals can be entered not only for a provider, but for services such as transportation, dietary, social work or genetic counseling.

The easy transition to cancer care and support is something Ince says is personal for her.

“For me, my dad has stage four kidney cancer that's metastasized, and a patient in the community, and this is just what I needed a few years ago. So, I really feel connected to this journey through my diagnostic imaging scheduling, that journey and now to the Cancer Institute, I feel blessed to be part of this role.”

The rapid access model will continue to expand, capturing referrals from providers outside of OSF HealthCare. Ince says there have also been preliminary discussions of how this model could be applied to other major medical care offered by OSF HealthCare.

Sarah Ince and Amanda Luczkowiak

B-roll for rapid intake at OSF Cancer Institute