The word “cancer” from the lips of a doctor sounds like a sentence - incredibly scary and creepy. This ailment is most often detected already at certain stages of development, and after all, few people know that there are so-called precancerous diseases that are far from as terrible as they seem, and in all cases are reversible. All that is required is to identify them before they grow into something larger and more incurable.
Deciphering the term
Precancerous diseases are acquired or congenital changes in some body tissues that contribute to the onset of malignant neoplasms. After reading this, many can breathe a sigh of relief, they say they are checked regularly by doctors, and in which case they find an sore in the early stages. But in practice, it is extremely difficult to determine with certainty that a certain minor tumor in the internal tissues is precisely the signals about the nucleation of something more serious. Most often, precancerous conditions are transferred by the patient absolutely painlessly, a person does not bother and does not bother. Perhaps they can be detected only by a certain technique under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
Historical information
In 1870, a domestic professor and doctor M. M. Rudnev said at one of his lectures that cancer is such an ailment that is formed on the basis of certain diseases that affect certain organs. He was sure that malignant tumors did not form out of the blue, something stood behind them. A term such as precancerous disease first appeared in 1896, after the international congress of dermatologists was held in London. During this event, the following was also revealed. They established which particular human organs are susceptible to the formation of malignant tumors. Consequently, all precancerous diseases already had an exact localization, and it was much easier to identify them than before. In a short period of time, the process of identifying such foci of such a serious ailment has become very popular in the world of medicine and has been called "cancer prevention."
Precancer classification
From a clinical point of view, precancerous conditions are divided into two categories: obligate and optional. Oddly enough, diseases belonging to both groups are congenital or hereditary in nature, it is almost impossible to get them on their own or from someone to catch them (as you know, oncology is not transmitted by airborne droplets). Immediately emphasize that most of the ailments that will be described below are not familiar to ordinary people and are not so common. But at the first appearance of at least one of the symptoms of these diseases, immediately go to the oncologist, test and take a course of cancer prevention. Well, now we will examine in detail which particular ailments are included in the first and second categories, and what their further fate is.
Obligatory category
This group of diseases is caused solely by congenital factors. In a percentage of cases from 60 to 90, such ailments serve as a good basis for the further development of cancer, since they stimulate the growth of malignant tumors in the body. In the obligate category, the following diseases should be mentioned:
- All kinds of polyps that can form both on the mucous membranes accessible to humans and in internal organs. Polyps themselves are neoplasms, and at the slightest glitch they become harmful to humans.
- Cysts, which are formed by glandular secretory organs, are also background and precancerous diseases. These hardenings are most often found in the ovaries, pancreas, thyroid, salivary and mammary glands.
- Xeroderma pigmentosa is the only hereditary disease in this category that serves as the basis for skin cancer.
- Familial colon polyposis is a small deviation that occurs in the body of almost every person. However, in some cases, if there is a predisposition to oncology, such proliferation of cells leads to the formation of a malignant tumor. Such polyps can cause intestinal or stomach cancer.
Optional group
Sometimes an exhaustive answer to the question of what causes cancer comes from specific diseases that are familiar to almost every person. They are not as common as colds or flu, but they can catch everyone by surprise. Among them, we will name the following:
- Cervical erosion.
- Papilloma.
- Atrophic gastritis.
- Skin horn.
- Keratoacanthoma.
- Ulcerative colitis.
But if none of the above was found in the patient, and a malignant tumor still formed? Inflammation in any organ, in any mucous membrane or even on the surface of the skin - this is the most important thing that causes cancer. Unnatural cell formations can appear even against the background of chronic bronchitis, if the process of inflammation constantly occurs in the respiratory system. The same goes for ulcers, gastritis, diabetes and so on.
Two types of precancer treatment
Many doctors adhere to the so-called rule to cut off the problem or focus of the disease. In other words, an operation is performed during which a tumor or growth that has arisen in the body is simply removed with a scalpel. For a long time it was believed that such a method is the most effective, but it turned out that this is not entirely true. The fact is that even after the elimination of malignant tumors in the tissues, the "roots" of the disease remain, which in the near future will give new "fruits". For example, precancerous diseases of the cervix are polyps. They can be removed, and in some cases even without medical assistance, on their own. However, soon the next neoplasms will grow, possibly even larger in size and much more dangerous to health. It is necessary to be examined regularly, undergo prophylaxis and totally monitor your body.
Stomach
This organ seems to be a target for a wide variety of ailments. Moreover, it is he who is responsible for our appearance, for the condition of the skin and hair, even for mood. Precancerous diseases of the stomach are almost all the sores that occur in it and are accompanied by inflammatory processes. For example, against the background of a seemingly harmless gastritis, something more dangerous and malignant can grow. The same applies to pancreatitis, ulcers, etc.
So, in brief, precancerous diseases of the stomach are a chronic ulcer, polyposis of various parts of the intestine, hypertrophic gastritis, and decreased acidity of the stomach. Also, malignant tumors can begin to develop against the background of previously performed operations to remove a specific part of the stomach.
Prevention
The spread and development of gastric cancer is believed to depend on geographic location. The bottom line is that in every country people eat certain foods that can either stimulate the overgrowth of cancer cells or slow down this process. Thus, it was found that pickles, beans, fried and smoked products, rice in large quantities, as well as a lack of vitamins are the cause of the formation and development of malignant tumors. But the consumption of all dairy products in food reduces the risk of stomach cancer.
Gynecology
In this industry, two types of precancer are distinguished: external genitalia and cervix. In the first category, two main ailments can be identified that serve as a background for the further formation of a malignant tumor.
- Leukoplakia is a dystrophic disease that is accompanied by keratinization of the vaginal mucosa. Dry white plaques also appear in the process, followed by the formation of sclerosis and wrinkling of tissues.
- Vulvar kaurosis is characterized by wrinkling and atrophy of the mucous membrane, clitoris and labia minora. As a result, the skin of the external genitalia becomes hypersensitive, unbearable itching and burning appear.
Precancer in the internal genital organs
Oddly enough, this category of diseases is much more common and, of course, more dangerous. Most often, precancerous diseases of the cervix are determined in the gynecological office after examination or after analysis, and among them the following can be named:
- Erosion.
- Leukoplakia of the vagina.
- Polyps.
- Erythroplakia.
- Ectropion.
In most cases, precancerous diseases in gynecology require surgical intervention. After the focus of the disease is completely excised, the patient must undergo a long and regular course of prevention, so that the disease does not flare up with renewed vigor.
Cancer in Dentistry
Not only teeth and gums should be healthy, but also all parts of the oral cavity - as dentists say. You need to monitor the state of the upper and lower palate, tongue, inner part of the cheeks, as well as the lips and even the glands. After all, all these organs and parts of the body are in close proximity to each other, and all those diseases that appear on one of them quickly spread to all the others. Oddly enough, cancer is an ailment that can even affect the oral cavity. Its development most often originates with completely harmless, at first glance, defects, which are hard to call a disease. It can be permanent cracks on the lips, a certain color and structure of a plaque on the tongue, small pimples and wounds in the sky. Therefore, before we proceed to a detailed examination of all the ailments associated with this mucous membrane, we warn: carefully watch yourself, pay attention to all the flaws and concerns that concern you. It is better to consult a doctor in vain than to regret later.
External changes that indicate precancer
In some cases, you yourself can find on your body some metamorphoses, which will mean that something went wrong in the body. A number of such changes may include the following:
- The mucous membrane loses moisture, becomes dry and wrinkled.
- Blurred areas appear on it.
- Some of its areas may be de-epidermized.
- Microcracks become a pathology that cannot be eliminated.
- Increased bleeding. This is due to the fact that blood vessels and capillaries become too fragile.
List of diseases and background conditions
Precancerous diseases of the oral cavity are also divided into obligate and optional. Immediately, we note that in severity they can be identical or even an obligate illness will be easier to tolerate than an optional one. But in the first case, the formation of a malignant tumor is inevitable, and in the second - this is only one of the scenarios. So, the following are classified as obligate:
- Keir erythroplasia, as well as Bowen disease.
- Abrasive precancerous cheilitis Manganotti.
- Nodular or warty precancer.
- Organic hyperkeratosis of the red border.
As it turned out, facultative precancerous sucking of the oral cavity is much more than obligate. Many of them are subsequently converted to a cancerous tumor in an average of 15 percent of cases. But we still list them:
- Skin horn.
- Papillomas.
- Erosive and verrucous leukoplakia.
- Keratoacanthoma.
- The presence of ulcers on the mucous membrane (most often they are chronic).
- Constantly cracked lips.
- Cheilitis of various kinds.
- X-ray stomatitis.
- Lichen planus.
- Lupus erythematosus.
Summarizing
In medical theory, precancerous conditions are specific diseases that can be treated and prevented. Therefore, it is believed that, having discovered them, it is possible to save the patient from death. In practice, it turns out that there are much more such states than those described above. The fact is that cancerous tumors can arise in the most unexpected places and organs. They are formed in areas where inflammatory processes regularly occur. And most importantly, the person himself may not even suspect about these processes. Therefore, you need to monitor your body with special care, regularly undergo examination by doctors and take care of yourself.