2023-09-02 11:00:00
Researchers from the University of São Paulo, USP, have developed a treatment for skin cancer, the most common type among patients of the Unified Health System, the SUS. The nationally developed technology has now been approved for use in public health, according to Agência Brasil, and promises to be a faster and less uncomfortable method than the traditional ones.
Helena Pontieri Morales, a housewife, discovered a skin cancer lesion on her nose, but instead of undergoing surgery, she opted for photodynamic therapy, which has had an impact on dermatology in Brazil. she describes the laser procedure as having caused only a slight burn.
The treatment is available at Hospital Amaral Carvalho, in Jaú, São Paulo, one of the 70 study centers that offer this therapy. The focus is on early-stage basal cell carcinoma, a small, specific lesion that can be treated with photodynamic therapy.
The device has treated more than 5,000 injuries and is in use in nine Latin American countries. The cost of treatment ranges from R$200 to R$300 per lesion of up to one centimeter. Com just two sessions of 20 minutes each, more than 90% of patients can be cured.
This therapy was developed by USP in São Carlos over 20 years and Brazil is considered a world leader in investments in this technique, with more than R$ 10 million coming from various sources, including Fapesp, BNDES, Ministry of Health and Finep.
The Brazilian innovation is now available on the SUS, after about 10 years of use in the private sector. The treatment is praised for its affordability and effectiveness, making it a valuable solution for the country’s public health system. As highlighted by Celso Pansera, President of Finep, this innovation exemplifies how basic science can be transformed into products that solve real problems, such as those of the SUS.
There is still no exact forecast from the Ministry of Health, however, for when the treatment will be widely available in the country.
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