precancerous

American  

[pree-kan-ser-uhs] / priˈkæn sər əs /

adjective

1. showing pathological changes that may be preliminary to malignancy.

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precancerous British  

adjective

1. (esp of cells) displaying characteristics that may develop into cancer

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Etymology

Origin of precancerous

1880–85; pre- ( def. ) + cancerous ( def. )

Explanation

A symptom or condition is considered precancerous by doctors if it's likely to turn into cancer if it isn't removed or treated. Most doctors recommend surgically removing precancerous skin growths. Most moles are nothing more than spots of pigment on your skin, but occasionally moles are diagnosed as being precancerous, or containing disordered cells at risk of becoming cancerous. Some precancerous growths never turn into cancer, but the slight risk that they might is usually enough to concern medical experts. Some doctors also use the term precancerous to talk about non-aggressive, early forms of cancer.

Example Sentences

Most presidential check-up reports, though, contain details of mundane ailments: "Doctors removed a precancerous skin lesion from the tip of his nose", reads a New York Times report on Bill Clinton's annual checkup from 1996.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

Cervical-cancer rates in the U.S. have dropped significantly since the 1970s thanks to widespread screening for precancerous cells and the rollout of the HPV vaccine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

The fight Lee is referring to is her diagnosis nine years ago of ductal carcinoma in situ, a precancerous condition that can lead to malignant breast cancer.

From Salon • Aug. 19, 2024

Routine colon cancer screenings often reveal small precancerous polyps, which can be removed before they become cancerous.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2024

Deer inhabiting nearby forests sometimes had abnormal pigment spots and precancerous warts.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson