Justice Ginsburg leaves hospital after surgery to remove cancerous growths

Doctors may not have found the growths as early as they did if it weren't for Ms Ginsburg's fractured ribs

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home and recovering after surgeons removed two cancerous growths from her left lung.

After Ms Ginsburg fractured three of her ribs last month, doctors examined her and found the potentially dangerous growths. They performed a pulmonary lobectomy, where they removed the affected lobe from her lung, on Friday.

Ms Ginsburg was back at home on Christmas Day, a public information officer said, according to CNN.

The procedure has a high success rate, especially when caught early. If Ms Ginsburg had not been in the hospital for her cracked ribs, the growths may have not been discovered so early; however, they may never have affected her either, NBC reports. There is no indication that the cancer spread anywhere else in Ms Ginsburg’s body, and there are no plans for further treatment.

Usually, lung cancer patients are only diagnosed after they show symptoms, which Ms Ginsburg did not. Patients have a much lower chance of recovery if they don’t get treatment early.

A documentary on Ms Ginsburg’s life, called “On the Basis of Sex,” was released on Christmas day as well.

The Supreme Court Justices return to work on January 4, 2019. Although she has already served for 25 years, Ms Ginsburg has said that she plans to stay on the Supreme Court until she no longer can. At 85 years old, she is the oldest justice on the bench. As a key democrat, her departure would have profound political implications, especially if President Donald Trump were to replace her with a conservative justice of his choice.