Precancers are also called dysplasias, a term that means that abnormal cells have been found in the tissue. Dysplasias aren't cancer, but may become cancer, and are graded as mild, moderate or severe depending on how abnormal the cells look compared to healthy cells.
The term "precancer" may sound scary, but it simply means that there are cells that have grown abnormally, causing their size, shape, or appearance to look different than normal cells. These changes may increase a person's risk of developing cancer, but there is usually no way to tell if they will ever become cancer.
If left untreated, it may take 10 years or more for precancerous conditions of the cervix to turn into cervical cancer, but in rare cases this can happen in less time. Precancerous conditions of the cervix happen in an area called the transformation zone.
Basically, a precancerous lesion is a collection of cells from the body's organs that may look and appear to be the same as cancer cells, but may not have the properties of cancer cells that allow them to break through the membranes of the organ they come from and spread (or “metastasize”) to other organs.
Precancers are also called dysplasias, a term that means that abnormal cells have been found in the tissue. Dysplasias aren't cancer, but may become cancer, and are graded as mild, moderate or severe depending on how abnormal the cells look compared to healthy cells.
Actinic keratosis (AK) is the most common type of growth that can become precancerous. Some people say an AK feels rough, like a spot of sandpaper on the skin. Many oncologists consider AKs as early squamous cell cancers (SCC).
Cryotherapy is used most often for pre-cancerous conditions such as actinic keratosis and for small basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. For this treatment, the doctor applies liquid nitrogen to the tumor to freeze and kill the cells. This is often repeated a couple of times in the same office visit.
Doctors may use a cream called 5-fluorouracil, a form of topical chemotherapy, to destroy numerous actinic keratoses. For example, the cream may be useful for people who have precancerous growths covering the entire back of their hands or a section of their face.
The main types of precancerous lesions include actinic keratosis, actinic cheilitis, Bowen disease, and leukoplakia.
Not necessarily. Despite what's implied by the prefix, not all precancerous cells progress into cancer. Precancerous cells are abnormal cells that could undergo changes and turn into cancer cells as time goes by. In fact, most precancerous cells do not morph into invasive cancer cells.
Treatments for precancerous lesions include excision (surgical removal of the abnormal area, also referred to as a cone biopsy or conization, or loop electrosurgical excision procedure [LEEP]), cryosurgery (freezing), and laser (high-energy light). (See "Patient education: Colposcopy (Beyond the Basics)".)
Many women with mild changes don't need treatment as the cell changes go back to normal on their own. Your doctor or nurse might use the terms cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia (CGIN).
Treatment can prevent a precancerous skin growth from progressing to skin cancer. Treatment can relieve symptoms, such as itching or tenderness. Some people need multiple and repeat treatments.
Fatigue Feeling extremely tired can be a symptom of cancer in your body. (1,2) A Lump A lump or thickening of skin can be an early or late sign of cancer. People with cancers in the breast, lymph nodes, soft tissues, and testicles typically have lumps.
Moles that change colour, shape or size. Chest pain or a chest infection that doesn't get better. A cough that doesn't go away or difficulty swallowing. Feeling tired or weak when it is unexpected.
The abnormal tissue is removed using a thin wire loop that is heated electrically. The aim is to remove all the abnormal cells from the surface of the cervix. A LLETZ or LEEP is done under local anaesthetic in your doctor's office or under local or general anaesthetic in hospital. It takes about 10–20 minutes.
A precancerous lesion can be tender and painful. Some patients compare these areas to feeling like fine-grit sandpaper. Others describe it as feeling like a splinter is stuck in their skin when they shave or rub over it. These types of lesions are also more sensitive.
Because of this, the lesions are often called precancer. They are not life-threatening. But if they are found and treated early, they do not have the chance to develop into skin cancer.
Dysplastic Nevi (Atypical Moles)
Atypical moles may be larger (one-quarter inch across or larger) and more irregular in shape, with notched or fading borders. They may be flat or raised or the surface smooth or rough. They are typically of mixed color, including pink, red, tan, and brown.
Cancer uses your body's nutrients to grow and advance, so those nutrients are no longer replenishing your body. This “nutrient theft” can make you feel extremely tired.
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science. This page was updated on April 29, 2022. Stage 1 cancer is often referred to as early-stage cancer. It occurs when cancer develops in the body but has not spread to distant regions and has not grown deeply into nearby tissue.
What is Pre-Cancer? Pre-cancer simply means your doctor has spotted cells that appear different in size or shape than normal cells. For whatever reason, some of your cells have grown abnormally. This is nothing to be alarmed about, as pre-cancer is very treatable, if you require treatment at all.
In fact, age is the biggest risk factor for the disease. More than nine out of 10 cancers are diagnosed in people 45 and older. Those older than 74 make up almost 28% of all new cancer cases.