Precancerous conditions or lesions are defined local signs with the presence of atypical cells that have increased risk of cancer development.
In medical practice, there is enough accumulated information about anomalies that can develop into cancer over time. It is a result of the mutations absorbtion in the genome or genetic breakdowns in DNA. In addition, each mutation (optional) may reflect the cancer progression stages, and the affected area is changing its own appearance and function.
Special attention to precancerous lesions
With the information on precancerous conditions, cancer risk can be significantly reduced. Annual preventive check-up, provided by a doctor, allows to detect and stop a dangerous disease development on time. Learn more about early cancer diagnosis.
Pernicious habits and precancerous conditions
Among the factors that contribute to the cancer progression the most harmful are:
- smoking;
- excessive drinking;
- overweight.
Diagnosis of precancerous conditions
In Israel, extensive experience of diagnosing such lesions has been accumulated. You can learn more about prevention and precancerous treatment at the consultation of a leading Israeli oncologist.
A significant role has the patient’s self-examination. It is necessary to contact with the doctor or oncologist in the presence of suspicious symptoms, and get timely treatment. Physician is not always able to determine precancerous conditions by appearance and symptoms, so he can also require:
- CT or MRI – to determine the location of the modified lesion;
- biopsy for pathoanalysis to exclude a malignant process in a suspicious area;
- blood test for biomarkers.
Even with the cancer development, but its early detection, patient has a good chance for cure and long-term prognosis for survival.
Treatment of precancerous lesions
There is a difficulty in treating precancerous conditions. Cytological and histological examination have different systems for assessing the malignant level of a biopsy and dividing this into three groups — malignant, benign, and precancerous. In some cases it is impossible to find the differences between these states.
Known precancerous conditions and their biomarkers
Precancerous conditions may include various states:
- Digestive tract
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Colon polyp
- Atrophic gastritis
- Gynecology
- Extramedullary Paget’s desease
- Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)
- Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN)
- Vulvar lichen sclerosus
- Skin
- lentigo maligna or precancerous melanosis
- Actinic keratosis
- Breast
- Paget’s disease
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- Breast calcinates
- Urology
- Bladder carcinoma in situ
- Cutaneous horn
- Leukoplakia
- Bowen’s Disease
- Genital warts
- Condiloma Bushke-Levenshtein
- Lenticular discoid dyskeratosis
- Bovenoid papulosis
- Xerotic obliterans balanitis (lichen sclerosus)
- Erythroplasia of Queyrat
- Hematology
- Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS)
- Head, neck and mouth
- Erythroplakia
- Submucous oral fibrosis
- Stomatitis nicotina
- Verrucous leukoplakia
- Oral lichen planus