Types Of Precancerous Conditions
Cancers that begin in epithelial cells may have a precancerous state before they turn into cancer. These cells are found in the skin and the lining tissue of many organs.
Some precancerous conditions include:
- Adenomatous polyps in the colon: May develop into colon cancer
- Actinic keratoses: Abnormal changes in the skin that may develop into squamous cell skin cancer
- Dysplastic moles: May develop into melanoma or indicate a higher risk of melanoma
- Bronchial epithelial dysplasia: May develop into lung cancer
- Atrophic gastritis: Abnormal changes in the stomach that may develop into gastric cancer
- Bowen’s disease: May develop into invasive skin cancer
What Are The Risk Factors For Actinic Keratosis
UV rays from the sun and from tanning beds cause almost all actinic keratoses. Damage to the skin from UV rays builds up over time. This means that even short-term exposure to sun on a regular basis can build up over a lifetime and increase the risk of actinic keratoses. Some people are more at risk than others, including:
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People with pale skin, blonde or red hair, and blue, green, or gray eyes
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People with darker skin, hair, and eyes who have been exposed to UV rays without protection
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Older adults
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People with suppressed immune systems
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People with rare conditions that make the skin very sensitive to UV rays, such as albinism or xeroderma pigmentosum
Skin Cancer Photos: What Skin Cancer & Precancerous
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What Does Early Skin Cancer Look Like
It can be challenging to tell if a skin change is unimportant or, in fact, is a sign of developing skin cancer. Skin cancer is not uncommon, as one in five Americans will develop skin cancer before age 70. Learning to spot the warning signs is vital. When identified early, skin cancer is highly curable. Do you know what to look for or when to seek medical advice?
How Long Does It Take For Melanoma To Spread
Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in as little as 6 weeks and, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun. Nodular melanoma is a highly dangerous form of melanoma that looks different from common melanomas.
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What It Means If You Have Precancerous Cells
The term precancerous cells can sound scary. The first thing to make clear is that not all precancerous cells turn into cancer. In fact, most do not. But these are abnormal cells, somewhere between normal cells and cancer cells.
Many people have heard of precancerous cells of the uterine cervix that are found during Pap smears. Precancerous cells, however, may occur in nearly any region of the body, such as the skin, the breasts, or the colon. Unlike cancer cells, they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to distant regions of the body.
This article takes a deeper look at what precancerous cells do and how serious they may be when found. It details some possible causes of precancerous cells and how they may be treated.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
The Most Common Types Of Pre
A Common Precancer Actinic keratosis is the most common precancer that forms on skin damaged by chronic exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and/or indoor tanning. Solar keratosis is another name for the condition. AKs result from long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation Symptoms depend on whether it is a cancer or pre-cancer and what kind of vulvar cancer it is. Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Most women with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia have no symptoms at all. When a woman with VIN does have a symptom, it is most often itching that does not go away or get better NYU Langone doctors use several therapies to treat an actinic keratosis, a precancerous lesion that can turn into a squamous cell skin cancer. Some of these treatments may also be used for very early basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. Which therapy you undergo is largely a matter of personal preference If your cancerdoes come back at some point, your treatment options will depend on where the cancer is and what treatments you’ve had before. If the cancer comes back just on the skin, options might include surgery , radiation therapy , or other types of local treatments
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What Does Skin Cancer Look Like
Skin cancer may start as a new growth, a sore that does not heal or a change in the appearance of a mole or freckle. Skin cancers look different from one another. It is important look for skin cancer signs by knowing what your moles currently look like to be able to tell if they have changed and become cancerous. Skin cancers are generally found on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, including the head, neck, face, hands and arms.
When To See A Healthcare Provider
It is always vital to seek medical advice early for a skin change, no matter how small it may appear. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider for a skin exam if you notice:
- Any new changes, lesions, or persistent marks on your skin
- A mole that is asymmetrical, has an irregular border, is multicolored, is large in diameter, is evolving, or has begun to crust or bleed
- An “ugly duckling” mole on the skin
- Any changes to your skin that you are concerned about
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Precancerous Conditions Of The Skin
- Cancer development happens in multiple stages, from precancerous changes to malignant tumors. However, not all cancers form tumors, and different cancers can develop at different rates. Sometimes cancer cells spread from their original site to other places in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic systema process called metastasis
- Actinic keratoses localized superficial tumors with the biological potential to develop into invasive skin cancer.Although the chance of an individual actinic keratosis progressing into an invasive squamous cell carcinoma is less than 1%, patients with many of these lesions who continue to expose their skin to carcinogenic ultraviolet sunlight are likely to develop invasive skin.
- Types of skin cancer include: Actinic keratosis is a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma.. Basal cell carcinoma begins in the basal cells, which are the cells at the base of the epidermis . This is the most common form of skin cancer and usually occurs on body areas that get sun exposure
- It sounds like a harsh question, but you seem to be a practical person. My understanding of the word benign is that it could also mean precancerous because a growth is a DNA change, and a growth continues to grow and it can change to become cancerous, or not, Get a second opinion and study the information
What Can I Do To Prevent The Development Of Actinic Keratosis
We recommend using sunscreen, wearing long-sleeves and hats, seeking shade, and trying to avoid midday sun when possible. Reserve your time outside for the early morning or late evening hours, if possible. Sun exposure causes the development of actinic keratoses, so naturally sun-protection helps prevent it.
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Causes Of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer begins in your skin’s top layerthe epidermis. The epidermis is a thin layer that provides a protective cover of skin cells that your body continually sheds. The epidermis contains three main types of cells:
- Squamous Cells: These lie just below the outer surface and function as the skin’s inner lining.
- Basal Cells: These produce new skin cells, and sit beneath the squamous cells.
- Melanocytes: These produce melaninthe pigment that gives skin its normal colorand are located in the lower part of your epidermis. Melanocytes produce more melanin when you’re in the sun to help protect the deeper layers of your skin.
Where your skin cancer begins determines its type and your treatment options.
Much of the damage to DNA in skin cells results from ultraviolet, or UV, radiation found in sunlight and in the lights used in tanning beds. But sun exposure doesn’t explain skin cancers that develop on skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight. This indicates that other factors may contribute to your risk of skin cancer, such as being exposed to toxic substances or having a condition that weakens your immune system.
When Do Cells Become Cancerous
Most of the time, the answer to how long it may take for a precancerous cell to become cancerous will vary. The answer also depends on the type of cell that’s involved.
In one study that looked at 101 people with abnormal cell changes of the vocal cords, 15 of them went on to develop invasive cancer.
One of those had mild dysplasia, one had moderate dysplasia, seven had severe dysplasia, and six had carcinoma in situ. In 73% of these people, their precancerous lesions became invasive cancer of the vocal cords within one year. The rest of them developed cancer years later.
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A Primer On Skin Cancer
Malignant melanoma, especially in the later stages, is serious and treatment is difficult. Early diagnosis and treatment can increase the survival rate. Nonmelanoma skin cancers include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Both are common and are almost always cured when found early and treated. People who’ve had skin cancer once are at risk for getting it again they should get a checkup at least once a year.
How To Check Yourself
By checking your skin regularly, you will learn to recognize what spots, moles, and marks are already present and how they typically appear. The more you get to know your skin, the easier it will be for you to detect changes, such as new lesions or spots and moles that have changed in shape, size, or color, or have begun bleeding.
It is best to use a full-length mirror when checking your skin for changes or early signs of skin cancer. Observe your body in the mirror from all anglesfront, back, and on each side.
Taking each part of the body in turn, start with your hands and arms, carefully examining both sides of the hands and the difficult to see places like the underarms. Move on to your legs and feet, making sure to check the backs of your legs, soles of your feet, and between your toes.
Use a small mirror to get a closer look at your buttocks and your back. You can also use a small mirror to examine your face, neck, head, and scalp. Don’t forget to part your hair and feel around your scalp.
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Skin Cancer Prevention In Portland
Most skin cancers result from too much sun exposure. The ultraviolet A rays can cause premature wrinkling, brown age spots while the ultraviolet B rays cause sunburns. Both types of radiation, UVA and UVB, are harmful and can cause skin cancer. It is essential to protect your skin from these damaging rays in order to prevent skin cancer. Not only do sunburns increase skin cancer, a tan is a sign of sun damage and will increase your risk of skin cancer.
Cancer Prevention Is Key
Generally speaking, your doctor will make an educated guess to determine whether precancerous lesions may develop into cancer. Your doctor will consider several factors, including family history, body mass index, and tobacco use, to evaluate your risk of cancer.
At Ezra, we have created a five-minute questionnaire to assess your cancer risk factors. If you decide to be proactive about your health, Ezra offers several cancer screening solutions using imaging techniques such as MRI and low-dose CT.
The Ezra full-body MRI screens a total of 14 organs for cancer in less than 60 minutes. This technique is safe, painless, and affordable.
With the Ezra Full Body Plus package, an additional five-minute low-dose CT imaging exam of your chest will be performed. This package is especially valuable for detecting head, neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvic cancer. Make an appointment today.
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How To Spot A Precancerous Growth On Your Ski
Precancerous 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 Skin cancers — including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma — often start as changes to your skin. They can be new growths or precancerous lesions — changes that are not.. Your treatment options for skin cancer and the precancerous skin lesions known as actinic keratoses will vary, depending on the size, type, depth and location of the lesions. Small skin cancers limited to the surface of the skin may not require treatment beyond an initial skin biopsy that removes the entire growth When patients, and even some clinicians, see the word carcinoma, they get misled into thinking they have cancer. Pre-cancer means there are cells that have grown abnormally, causing their size, shape or appearance to look different than normal cells. Whether abnormal cells become cancerous is, in many cases, an uncertainty
Therapies For Precancerous Or Early Basal & Squamous Cell Skin Cancers
NYU Langone doctors use several therapies to treat an actinic keratosis, a precancerous lesion that can turn into a squamous cell skin cancer. Some of these treatments may also be used for very early basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.
Which therapy you undergo is largely a matter of personal preference. You and your doctor can discuss the right treatment option for you.
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A Dermatologist Should Examine All Actinic Keratosis
If you find anything on your skin that looks like an AK, you should see a dermatologist. AKs are precancerous growths, and some turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Being under a dermatologists care can help you get the treatment you need.
Related AAD resources
Image 3: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 76:349-50.
Image 4: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 74:981-1004.
Images 5 and 9: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 42:S8-10.
Image 6: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 62:85-95.
Images 7 and 8: Images used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.
ReferencesDuncan KO, Geisse JK, et al. Epithelial precancerous lesions. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008: 1007-15.
Moy RL, Clinical presentation of actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000 42:S8-10.
What Is Precancerous Skin Growth
Precancerous skin growths develop on skin that has a lot of sun exposure over time without proper protection. While it’s not considered cancer yet, it can turn into it in the future. While many forms of precancerous skin growths form after the age of 40, it can happen at an earlier age, especially for those of us living in Florida where we are outside in a lot of sunshine.
Actinic keratosis is the most common type of precancerous growth. Some people say an AK feels rough, like a spot of sandpaper on the skin. Many oncologists consider AKs as early squamous cell cancers . If left untreated, AKs are likely to progress into nonmelanoma skin cancer.
If precancerous skin growths are left untreated, they may result in one of the following types of skin cancer:
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What If I Am Diagnosed With Skin Cancer
If the mole or growth is cancerous, a treatment plan can be developed to meet your needs. Sometimes the problem can be addressed through non-surgical photodynamic therapy. Other times, minor surgery may be required. More aggressive cancer treatment may be considered depending on the condition of the patient.
What Happens If I Dont Treat A Precancerous Lesion
Precancerous lesions may develop slowly for some time, but the amount of time is unpredictable. Each precancerous lesion has malignant potential. When we identify them, we dont want to take the risk of waiting to see what happens. We would rather prevent the development of carcinoma and treat these lesions as we find them.
If a precancerous lesion turns into carcinoma, it becomes a much bigger problem. Now youre facing surgery to treat your cancer. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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