The Pope was successfully treated for lung cancer. Now what?
Last week, the eyes of the world were riveted on the Vatican as it was revealed that Pope Leo had part of his right lung removed. It seems they caught the cancer early, at a stage where it hadn’t spread. His chances at “cure” were high.
Despite advances in cancer treatment, as well as significant inroads against smoking, 124,000 Americans still die of lung cancer each year. It’s still the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women—even exceeding the toll of breast cancer for women.
Despite the rosy prognosis if surgery “gets it all” at an early stage, cancer tends to seed micrometastases to remote sites within the body, only to recrudesce years, or even decades later. After successful cancer treatment, “survivors” are just told to “ring the bell” and hope for the best.
The five-year survival for even the smallest detectable lung cancers that haven’t spread to lymph nodes or beyond is 70-90%, good odds, but still reflecting the possibility that hidden cancer cells may eventually proliferate.
Is there something that patients like the Pope can do to reduce the likelihood of recurrence? After all, heart attack survivors are placed on aggressive regimens with cholesterol-lowerers, blood thinners, and blood pressure meds to avert future events.
Chemoprevention
Why is there not a comparable “chemo-preventive” program to keep cancer from coming back? Other than “adjuvant” radiation and chemotherapy, that is.
First, a caveat: Unlike for cardiovascular disease, there are no established medical protocols for cancer prevention. And, when it comes to supplements, there’s scant acknowledgement of their potential by orthodox medicine.
For example, the Fred Hutch Cancer Center reflects the party line:
“Supplements don’t prevent cancer, studies show; Fred Hutch research finds some supplements offer little benefit, some may increase cancer risk and some can interfere with treatment.”
Last week, I tackled the controversy over whether folic acid—even the tiny amounts now added to fortified cereals, pasta, flour, and rice—might be contributing to the alarming uptick in cancer in young people. Spoiler alert: Probably not.
Supplement “fails”
On the other hand, folic acid supplements have been found to worsen the prognosis of the largest subset of lung cancer patients—smokers. Presumably, the Pope is a non-smoker, but prudence might dictate caution when it comes to strong multis or B-complex formulas.
In the same vein, the 1996 CARET study famously found that beta carotene supplements accelerated cancer development in smokers. On the contrary, natural carotenoids from produce confer protection; A diet high in fruits and vegetables alone can reduce total cancer risk by as much as 14%.
And subsequently, the SELECT study of selenium and vitamin E for prevention of cancer similarly didn’t pan out. The study was flawed, but it is frequently cited by supplement skeptics.
What can help?
First of all, the fundamentals. There’s no question that diet matters when it comes to cancer recurrence. Healthline reports:
- “Higher intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with increased mortality among cancer survivors.”
- “A recent study shows that people with the highest intake of ultra-processed foods had a 48% higher rate of death from any cause and a 57% higher rate of death from cancer.”
It’s thought that the pro-inflammatory and microbiome-disruptive effects of an ultra-processed diet contribute to recurrence risk. I’d wager its harms have much to do with the paucity of beneficial vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and phytonutrients in junk food. Not to mention the refined carbohydrates, sugar, and poor-quality processed seed oils that fuel cancer proliferation.
Then there’s exercise: a highly-publicized 2020 study found that “exercise has a favorable effect on mortality and recurrence in patients with cancer.” Physical activity helps boost natural killer cells that rev cancer surveillance; it curbs sugar spikes; and tames inflammation.
Other supplements . . .
Vitamin D levels matter for cancer recurrence. While long term human intervention trials using vitamin D for lung cancer chemoprevention are, so far, lacking, a recent study summarizing results in four observational studies comprising over 5000 subjects concluded that:
“The present meta-analysis shows vitamin D not only improves the long-term survival of lung cancer patients but has a beneficial effect on the incidence of lung cancer.”
Why is vitamin D beneficial? According to research, its active form, calcitriol, “has been shown to be an anti-proliferative, pro-differentiation, pro-apoptotic agent and an inhibitor of cell migration.”
Cancer cells proliferate uncontrollably, are poorly-differentiated or primitive, and fail to undergo apoptosis, or natural cell death. They are fast-growing, stripped down, immortalized cells that eventually outcompete normal cells and are capable of metastasizing. Vitamin D helps on all these fronts.
Sulforaphane, a derivative of glucoraphanins from cruciferous vegetables, is a prime candidate for cancer chemoprevention. Preclinical studies in cell lines and animals have demonstrated sulforaphane’s ability to inhibit lung cancer pathways. A recent review concluded:
“Based on the overwhelming evidence presented in this in-depth analysis of current research, SFN [sulforaphane] is a promising antineoplastic and chemopreventive phytochemical that can be utilized as a valuable cancer-fighting agent.”
Sulforaphane can be sourced via specially-enriched broccoli sprouts, or in supplements.
Curcumin, renowned for its anti-inflammatory effects, has potent activity against cancer, and has even been shown to augment the benefits of chemotherapy. Moreover, curcumin appears to exert dual actions in radiation therapy, simultaneously offering radio-protection to normal cells while sensitizing cancer cells to radiation’s killing potential. While human trials are scant, a recent review summarized:
“In summary, our review has uncovered the multifaceted potential of curcumin both as an immunomodulator, as a radioprotective, anticancer medication and so much more. Curcumin boasts multiple benefits and presents itself as an interesting subject for future research.”
EGCGfrom green tea also has earned attention for its potential to thwart lung cancer development and progression. A 2026 review found it to have multiple anti-cancer actions:
“Collectively, preclinical data demonstrate that EGCG targets multiple hallmarks of lung cancer, including proliferation, apoptosis and ferroptosis, migration and metastasis, angiogenesis, cancer stemness, oncogenic signaling, metabolic reprogramming, immune evasion, and drug resistance.”
Beta glucans work in a different way, not by directly inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, but rather by improving the immune system’s surveillance and by augmenting its cancer-fighting capabilities. Beta glucans supplements—in the form of traditional Chinese mushrooms like Reishii, Shitake, or Coriolus, or standardized from purified yeast—are routinely prescribed in Asian countries to boost the efficacy of conventional cancer therapy.
A 2020 review—“Potential promising applications of beta-glucans”—states:
“ . . . inhibition of cancer development could be achieved by an increase in immune system activity via beta-glucans . . . This would cause the release of cytokines, which would then activate other antitumor immune cells, like macrophages stimulating neutrophils and monocytes.”
In the race to perfect beta glucans products of higher purity and efficacy, I believe the current title goes to BWH 85. Read more about it here.
Omega-3 fish oil, known for its anti-inflammatory effects, is a constituent of diets associated with lower cancer incidence, and greater cancer survival. Preliminary evidence in a mouse model reveals its potential against lung cancer:
“ . . . fish oil supplementation was able to decrease lung tumor prevalence by 78% and 80%, compared to groups receiving soybean oil and corn oil supplementation, respectively . . . These data suggest that fish oil with a low ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA could be beneficial in the prevention of lung carcinogenesis.”
Another review found fish oil supplementation could “induce cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy, and suppress tumor development when administered alone or with other therapeutical strategies.”
My go-to choice for fish oil is Big Bold Health’s Omega-3 Rejuvenate formula.
Astragalus is a popular ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine formulas. According to a 2024 review:
“APS [astragalus polysaccharide] can limit the spread of cancer by influencing immune cells, promoting cell death, triggering cancer cell autophagy, and impacting the tumor microenvironment. When used in combination with other therapies, APS can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce toxicity and side effects.”
Lycopeneis a carotenoid, but unlike synthetic beta carotene, it has distinct anti-cancer effects. It boasts double the free radical quenching potency of beta carotene, By far the majority of scientific research on lycopene relates to its effects on prostate cancer, but a few studies show activity against lung cancer.
A 2020 study found that a high consumption of tomato and lycopene was associated with a lower risk of cancer death overall. Previously, in an animal model of lung cancer, researchers found “the tomato carotenoid, lycopene, may have potential as a chemopreventive agent against carcinogenesis in the male lung.”
Aged Garlic Extract harnesses the immune-supportive and anti-cancer properties of allium family vegetables, whose consumption has been found to be associated with lower risk of many cancers. A recent study explored its potential in patients with colon cancer and concluded:
“Epidemiological and animal studies suggest AGE and its organosulfur constituents, such as S-allylcysteine and S-allylmercaptocysteine have anticarcinogenic effects . . . The results suggest AGE suppresses progression of colorectal adenomas in humans. It appears that AGE has multiple pathways to reduce cancer incidence and suppress its growth and proliferation.”
Find information about Aged Garlic Extract here.
With new options for detection and treatment, and yes, chemoprevention, lung cancer no longer carries the dire prognosis it once had. Any of you parishioners out there have an inside track to the Pope’s medical team? 😇