What does precancerous condition mean?

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.

Is pre cancer serious?

The takeaway is that a pre-cancerous condition does not mean you have cancer. It simply means you have an increased risk of cancer, which should serve as a reminder to stay current with medical visits and screening tests and communicate concerns or changes to your doctor.

What is the treatment for precancerous cells?

A precancerous lesion affecting these cells is called AIS. 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).

Is there a cure for precancerous skin cancer?

Treatment can prevent a precancerous skin growth from progressing to skin cancer. Some precancerous skin growths go on to become a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. There’s no way for your dermatologist to know which ones will progress to skin cancer.

What does it mean if you have precancerous cells?

Definition Precancerous cells (also called premalignant cells) are defined as abnormal cells that could turn into cancerous cells, but which, by themselves, are not invasive. 1  The concept of precancerous cells is confusing because it isn’t a black-and-white issue.

What kind of skin cancer is precancerous lesions?

Like many cancers, skin cancers — including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma — start as precancerous lesions. This WebMD slideshow tells you how to spot the early warning signs of skin cancer and seek treatment. Skip to main content Check Your Symptoms Find A Doctor Find A Dentist Connect to Care

What do you need to know about precancerous skin growths?

Having just one precancerous skin growth means that the sun, indoor tanning, or both have badly damaged your skin. As such, you have an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Getting your skin examined by a board-certified dermatologist helps to find precancerous skin growths and skin cancer early when they’re highly treatable.