Brazil expands cancer screening protocols to address rising disease burden

Brazilian health authorities and professional societies are intensifying efforts to curb a projected increase in cancer cases. The Brazilian Society of Dermatology and the Society of Stomatology recommend widespread public‑media campaigns and routine oral examinations to detect early lesions, urging immediate biopsies of suspicious spots.

In parallel, the American Cancer Society has updated its colorectal‑cancer screening guidelines, widening the recommended age range to 45‑75 and adding blood‑based tumor‑DNA markers and fecal‑blood tests as complements to colonoscopy. Brazil’s National Cancer Institute plans to introduce a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) program in the public health system from the second half of 2026, while the Ministry of Health seeks to broaden colonoscopy coverage. These combined measures aim to promote earlier diagnosis and reduce mortality from both oral and colorectal cancers.