Brazilian president undergoes radiotherapy following skin cancer detection

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has begun preventive radiation treatment after doctors diagnosed the Brazilian leader with early-stage skin cancer, his medical team and presidential office announced.

The 80-year-old president underwent surgery on April 24 to remove a basal cell lesion from his scalp, Reuters reports.

“It was decided to proceed with complementary treatment with preventive, superficial radiotherapy on the scalp,” doctors at Hospital Sírio-Libanês said in a medical statement, adding that Lula “will maintain his daily activities without restrictions.”

A spokesperson for Brazil’s presidency told Reuters that the lesion, described as “small,” had been identified as an early-stage cancer. According to the spokesperson, Lula is expected to undergo 15 radiotherapy sessions aimed at preventing the development of further lesions.

Despite the diagnosis, the Brazilian president is expected to continue his political activities ahead of the country’s presidential election in October, where he is widely anticipated to seek a fourth non-consecutive term.

Recent opinion polls indicate that Lula currently leads right-wing contender Flávio Bolsonaro in several scenarios for a potential second-round runoff.

Lula, who is Brazil’s oldest sitting president, has faced a series of health challenges in recent years. In 2024, he underwent emergency procedures to treat and prevent bleeding in his head. He was also treated for throat cancer in 2011.

By Vafa Guliyeva