Louis Prevost, the older brother of Pope Leo XIV, is being treated for multiple myeloma in a clinical trial at a local hospital in Florida, his wife, Deborah Prevost, told CBS News on Tuesday, Oct. 13. She said the blood cancer had stayed at a “very low level” for years but returned about three months ago. She did not share the stage of his cancer, and the family has not said which treatment he is receiving in the trial.
The interview came on the same day the Vatican announced that the 71-year-old pope has lung cancer. The two illnesses are different diseases. Lung adenocarcinoma begins in the lungs, while multiple myeloma starts in plasma cells in the bone marrow. Neither the family nor the Vatican has suggested that the two cancers are connected.
A Relapse After Years of Control
Deborah Prevost said Louis was first diagnosed in 2017. His treatment in 2019 included stem cell treatment and a clinical trial, and the disease remained at a very low level afterward, according to CBS News. She said he “fell out of remission” about three months ago.
The brothers spoke the week before Louis began the new trial, she said. Louis called “to let us know what would be happening,” she told CBS News.
She said she could not comment on the details of the pope’s condition. She said the family is “going through a lot” but that she was hopeful the pope’s cancer was in the “very early stages.” She added that she had not heard of any plans for radiation or chemotherapy for the pope. “We keep praying, keeping spirits up for both of them,” she said.
Surgeons at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung, and the procedure confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, MedicalDaily reported in its earlier coverage of the pope’s diagnosis. The Vatican said “the surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” according to an Associated Press report published by PBS News. The Vatican has not disclosed the stage of the pope’s cancer or whether he will need more treatment.
What Multiple Myeloma Is
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that makes antibodies to fight infection. According to the National Cancer Institute, the disease is called multiple myeloma when abnormal plasma cells form more than one tumor in bone or soft tissue. As myeloma cells build up, the bone marrow makes fewer healthy blood cells, and the cancer can damage and weaken bones.
The disease mainly affects older adults. The American Cancer Society estimates about 36,000 new U.S. cases and about 10,850 deaths from multiple myeloma in 2026. Most people diagnosed are at least 65, and the average age at diagnosis is 69.
Myeloma is often managed over many years. Many patients reach remission and later relapse, as Louis Prevost did, and then move on to a different treatment. Options include targeted drugs, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, steroids, and, for some patients, high-dose chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant.
Symptoms and Clinical Trials
Common signs of multiple myeloma listed by the American Cancer Society include bone pain, often in the back or hips; fatigue from low red blood cell counts; frequent infections; and easy bruising or bleeding. High calcium levels in the blood can cause heavy thirst, frequent urination, constipation, and confusion. Sudden back pain with numbness or weakness in the legs can signal pressure on the spinal cord and is a medical emergency.
A clinical trial tests a new drug, drug combination, or approach under a set plan. For people with relapsed myeloma, trials can offer access to treatments that are not yet widely available, though their benefits and risks are still being studied. Because the family has not named the trial, the specific therapy Louis Prevost is receiving is not known.
Patients and caregivers can use the National Cancer Institute’s clinical trial search tool to look for studies. Questions worth asking an oncologist include what the standard alternative would be, how often visits are required, and which costs the sponsor or insurer will pay. Most health plans must cover routine patient care costs in approved clinical trials, but patients should confirm coverage with their insurer before enrolling.
Several details remain unknown. The family has not shared Louis Prevost’s current condition, the trial phase, or the name of the hospital. The Vatican has not said whether the pope’s planned Nov. 6 to 17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru will go ahead.
Key Questions Answered
What did the pope’s family say about Louis Prevost’s health?
Deborah Prevost told CBS News that her husband has multiple myeloma and is being treated in a clinical trial at a local hospital. She said the cancer returned about three months ago after years at a very low level.
When was Louis Prevost first diagnosed?
He was first diagnosed in 2017, according to his wife. His treatment in 2019 included stem cell treatment and a clinical trial.
Is his cancer related to the pope’s lung cancer?
There is no public indication that the two illnesses are connected. Multiple myeloma begins in plasma cells in the bone marrow, while lung adenocarcinoma begins in the lungs.
What are common symptoms of multiple myeloma?
Symptoms can include bone pain, fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, and signs of high calcium such as heavy thirst or confusion. Sudden back pain with leg numbness or weakness needs emergency care.
How is relapsed multiple myeloma treated?
Doctors usually switch to a different treatment, which may include targeted drugs or immunotherapy. Some patients join clinical trials that test newer treatments.
How can patients find a myeloma clinical trial?
The National Cancer Institute offers an online clinical trial search tool. Patients should review eligibility, visit schedules, and insurance coverage with their oncologist before enrolling.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
