A precancerous cell is a cell with certain abnormalities that makes it more likely to becomecancerous.
In some cases, the affected tissues may be removed proactively.
Unlike cancer cells, they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to distant organs.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
This article explains what precancerous cells are and what causes them.
It also describes the different types of precancerous cells and what can be done to treat them.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
What Are Precancerous Cells?
In many cases, the abnormal cells will remain the same or even return to normal.
Most precancerous cells do not morph into invasive cancer cells.
Precancers that may develop in non-epithelial cells include:
What Causes Precancerous Cells?
There are quite a few factors that can cause cells to become precancerous.
They vary depending on the throw in of cell involved.
These work together to transform normally replicating cells into abnormally replicating cells.
While most HPV infections clear before any abnormal changes occur.
some may progress and cause precancerous growths on the cervix, anus, penis, mouth, and throat.
The vast majority of cervical cancers are associated with HPV.
Another example isHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori).
This common bacteria causes inflammation of the stomach that can lead to chronic atrophic gastritis.
In some people, this can progress tostomach cancer.
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic (persistent) inflammation can lead to precancerous changes in tissues.
Among people with Barretts esophagus, approximately 0.5% per year will develop esophageal cancer.
Another example isinflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The persistent inflammation because of IBS can lead to the formation of colon polyps.
Those with dysplasia that grow quickly, excessively, or irregularly have a greater chance of becoming colon cancer.
Chemical Exposure
Substances known to cause cancer are called carcinogens.
Grading is a methodology used to determine how abnormal cells look under the microscope.
The various changes are given numerical scores based on how normal or abnormal they are.
These scores are added up to determine the overall dysplasia grade.
The grade can also help determine if immediate treatment is needed or if a watch-and-wait approach is more appropriate.
How Serious Are Precancerous Cells?
Precancerous cells may or may not turn into cancer.
Other cases are treated just to be safe or after weighing the benefits and risks of treatment.
Cryotherapy and Surgery
Often, precancerous cells can be removed with a procedure calledcryotherapy.
This involves freezing the cells with temperatures of -150 F to -240 F to kill them.
This is called anexcisional surgeryperformed under local anesthesia.
Chemoprevention
For some conditions, your healthcare provider may recommend chemoprevention.
This involves medications that reduce the risk of precancerous cells coming back again after treatment.
Lifestyle Changes
Quitting cigarettes can also reduce the risk of many cancers, not just lung cancer.
This is true no matter how long you may have smoked.
Smoking and cervical cancer is one such example.
Summary
Precancerous cells are cells that show abnormal changes but have not yet developed into cancer cells.
In many cases, they won’t.
Some precancerous cells will require only monitoring.
Treatment for others will depend on where they are and what may have caused them.
Be sure to discuss any precancerous cells and the appropriate next steps with your healthcare provider.
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