Brazil could take the lead in public treatment of skin cancer

The most common type of cancer in Brazil is basal cell carcinoma, making up almost a third of all cases. It is the most prevalent form of skin cancer, with a low mortality rate and treatable with surgery and other interventions — as such, it is important that the Brazilian population has broad access to treatment options for what is a very common and curable disease.

To this end, researchers from the São Carlos Physics Institute of the University of São Paulo (IFSC-USP) are developing a protocol for photodynamic therapy — which involves the use of light and a photosensitizing chemical substance — hoping to make this treatment available to the entire country on the SUS public health system.

Photodynamic therapy is already a popular non-invasive alternative to diagnose and treat basal cell carcinoma, and is readily available via private health plans. The public health service inclusion committee Conitec has already recommended that photodynamic treatment become a part of SUS.

“The recommendation to incorporate the treatment into the...