SAO PAULO, May 25 - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has started a course of preventive radiotherapy after surgeons removed a skin lesion earlier this spring, his treating physicians said in a medical note.
According to the doctors, the lesion was identified as a basal cell lesion that was removed on April 24. They said it was decided to follow that procedure with complementary treatment in the form of preventive, superficial radiotherapy applied to the scalp. The medical team added that the president will continue his daily activities without restrictions while undergoing the treatment.
The announcement comes as Lula prepares for an expected bid in October to secure a fourth non-consecutive term. The doctors' note reiterated his ongoing schedule; separate reporting has indicated that Lula currently leads right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro in several opinion polls for a possible second-round runoff.
At age 80, Lula is Brazil's oldest sitting president. The medical note and related accounts of his health profile reference prior interventions: he underwent emergency surgeries in 2024 to treat and prevent bleeding in his head, and he received treatment for throat cancer in 2011. The medical statement on the recent lesion and follow-up radiotherapy did not indicate any change to his public-facing duties.
While the doctors framed the radiotherapy as preventive and superficial, the disclosure of the procedure and the history of past medical episodes highlight ongoing health considerations for the president as the election approaches. The medical team has emphasized continuity of activity, noting no restrictions to Lula's daily schedule during treatment.
This update contains the details released by the treating physicians: the specific pathology removed (a basal cell lesion), the date of removal (April 24), the chosen complementary treatment (preventive, superficial radiotherapy on the scalp), and the statement that daily activities will be maintained without restrictions. It also notes the factual context that he is expected to run in October, leads a named challenger in some polls, is 80 years old, and has a documented history of prior medical interventions in 2011 and 2024.