One of Pope Leo XIV’s older brothers is also receiving treatment for cancer, his wife told US broadcaster CBS on Tuesday, following the announcement that the Pope had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Louis Prevost, who lives in Florida, is undergoing clinical treatment for multiple myeloma, his wife, Deborah Prevost, said.
Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and the production of blood cells.
According to German Cancer Aid, the disease causes abnormal changes in plasma cells, which are part of the immune system. The exact cause remains unknown, although older age is a risk factor.
Common symptoms and complications include back pain, anaemia and kidney damage.
The Pope underwent lung surgery in Rome on Tuesday, after which doctors announced that the 71-year-old head of the Catholic Church had lung cancer.
His 74-year-old brother, Louis, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2017, according to his wife. In 2019, he underwent stem cell treatment, after which the disease remained under control for an extended period.
His wife did not provide further details about his current medical condition.
