The president () passed this Friday morning (24) for a basal cell carcinoma, the most common and least serious type of .
The surgery was performed in , in . In the same location, Lula also underwent a wrist infiltration procedure to treat tendonitis. According to the Presidency of the Republic, both interventions are light, do not require rest and should not interfere with the president’s agenda.
Basal cell carcinoma appears in areas that are exposed to the sun —head and neck— as pearly papules or wounds that do not heal.
According to dermatologist Carla Genevcius, this type of skin cancer offers a low risk of metastasis. “It has a local aggressiveness, but low.”
Carcinoma affects basal cells, located in the deepest layer of the epidermis.
The dermatologist explains that this type of cancer arises from prolonged exposure to the sun, which gradually causes a change in the cellular pattern of the skin.
“The sun has a cumulative effect, that is, the amount [de sol] that we have taken since childhood accumulates in relation to damage to the skin. This damage causes mutations in the cell’s DNA and favors the emergence of oncogenes [que levam a tumores]as they disrupt tumor suppression genes.”
The doctor highlights that this process is slow and generally culminates in the appearance of injuries in the patient’s elderly phase.
The lesion usually manifests itself as a wound that does not heal, a reddish spot or a small shiny elevation on the skin, which can grow over time. The treatment is surgical, with the removal of the lesion and a part of the unaffected skin (safety margin), according to the specialist.
One published last year in the journal JAMA Dermatology showed that the incidence of basal cell carcinoma grew 61.3% between 1990 and 2021.
Wrist infiltration is a procedure used to relieve pain and inflammation in cases such as tendonitis. Lula reported pain in his right thumb.
The technique consists of applying an injection, usually containing corticosteroids, into the affected region.
Infiltration is indicated when conventional treatment — which involves rest, physiotherapy and the use of other medications — does not provide an adequate response. Infiltration immediately reduces pain, allowing rehabilitation to continue with greater mobility.
According to orthopedist José Zabeu, from Vera Cruz Hospital, infiltrations are used to treat musculoskeletal structures, such as tendons and joints. “The most common are joints, where anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid infiltrate”, he says.
In tendons, says the doctor, it is common to infiltrate anti-inflammatories around them to reduce swelling. “In Lula’s case, it appears to be inflammation around the tendon, which sometimes becomes more painful. When you inject a corticosteroid-based liquid, you reduce inflammation, and the tendon improves”, explains Zabeu.
