Volkswacht Bodensee - Brazil's Lula has surgery to remove skin lesion from scalp

The lesion -- clearly visible in recent weeks -- was a basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, said dermatologist Cristina Abdalla, who led the procedure at the Sirio-Libanes Hospital in Sao Paulo.

"It is a common lesion, caused by sun exposure," Abdalla said.

Lula, 80, left the hospital shortly before noon, his office said.

Cardiologist Roberto Kalil Filho told reporters at the hospital that the surgery proceeded "without any complications" and healing will take about one month.

Lula was also given an injection in his right wrist to treat tendinitis in his thumb.

"He should not participate in large-scale events over the coming days, but this will not impact his schedule for next week," Kalil Filho said.

Lula plans to run for a fourth term as president in October elections, where he is likely to face Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, 44, the eldest son of imprisoned far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.

E.Burkhard--VB