Pope Francis is recovering from colon surgery after undergoing a left-hemicolectomy on Sunday.
The Vatican reports that the Pontiff is “alert and breathing spontaneously” at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome following the three-hour surgery. He had part of the left side of his colon removed and the organ was then reconnected in order to help with diverticular stenosis of the colon, or narrowing of the sigmoid portion of the colon. This condition can cause diverticulitis.
Read MoreThis is the first time Pope Francis has been hospitalized since he began his papacy, with his only other notable hospital visit occurring in 2019 when he had a cataract removed. He had previously had part of his lung removed as a young boy after a bout with tuberculosis.
Doctors say the bowel problems that the pope was experiencing are very common in older people, although only about 10% to 20% of people with similar problems require surgery, according to the Associated Press.
Diverticulitis can result in extreme pain in some people, and is caused by inflammation or infection of the small pouches inside the intestine, known as diverticula. This can be avoided by eating a diet that is low in fat and high in fiber.
While some of the symptoms of diverticulitis are similar to colon cancer, there is no known link between diverticulitis and cancer.
The operation is generally performed laparoscopically, which makes it easier for the intestine to heal quickly and allows the patient to return to normal drinking and eating habits within days of the surgery.
Faith and Prayer During Cancer
For a lot of cancer survivors, faith and prayer are extremely important to the recovery process. "I knew that if I just put my faith and trust in God, that I would be okay," says Sharonda Vincent about her cancer journey.
Sharonda discovered a lump in her left breast the day before her thirtieth birthday, with just over a month to go until her wedding. Her doctor initially dismissed her concerns, but follow-up tests confirmed that it was stage 2B breast cancer. "It was hard for me. I felt as if I was being punished," she says.
But after chemotherapy, radiation, and then hormone replacement, Sharonda is doing well. She’s currently a social service advocate at the Public Defender’s Office in Philadelphia.
Sharonda’s message: Don’t give up hope. Educate yourself and live every day to the fullest. "Breast cancer is no longer the end of the world," she says.
And Sharonda isn’t the only survivor who has told us that faith helped them through while dealing with cancer. Despite everything she's been through, Sharon Spencer still walks around with a smile on her face and an amazing outlook on life. She credits God for that positivity. Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 39 years old. After beating the cancer, she was hit by a car and her leg was partially amputated. She tells us that her faith in God never faltered during all this struggle … and that's enabled her to help other women who are going through similar troubles.
Breast cancer survivor Sharon Vincent talks about the role of God during her recovery from cancer
"I just think there's a purpose for each of us, and God has a plan for each of our lives," Sharon says. "I was just designated to give the encouragement and the support that women need. I've gotten so much stronger … my faith has grown so much since all of these things have happened to me."
Contributing: Zara Sternberg
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