The word "cancer" from the lips of a doctor sounds like a sentence - incredibly scary and creepy. This disease is most often detected already at certain stages of development, and few people know that there are so-called precancerous diseases that are far from being as terrible as they seem, and in all cases are reversible. All it takes is to identify them before they grow into something bigger and more incurable.
Deciphering the term
Precancerous diseases are acquired or congenital changes in some tissues of the body that contribute to the emergence of malignant neoplasms. After reading this, many can breathe a sigh of relief, they say you are checked regularly by doctors, and in which case they detect a sore in the early stages. But in practice, it is extremely difficult to determine with accuracy that a certain minor tumor in the internal tissues is precisely the signals of the emergence of something more serious. Most often, precancerous conditions are tolerated by the patient absolutely painlessly,nothing worries or worries a person. Perhaps only a certain technique under the guidance of an experienced doctor can detect them.
Historical information
In 1870, the Russian professor and doctor M. M. Rudnev said at one of his lectures that cancer is an ailment that is formed on the basis of certain diseases that affect certain organs. He was sure that malignant tumors do not form out of the blue, there is something behind them. Such a term as precancerous diseases first appeared in 1896, after an international congress of dermatologists was held in London. During this event, the following was also identified. It was established which human organs are prone 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 illness became very popular in the world of medicine and was called "cancer prevention".
Classification of precancer
From a clinical point of view, precancerous conditions are divided into two categories: obligate and facultative. Oddly enough, diseases belonging to both groups are congenital or hereditary in nature, it is almost impossible to acquire them on their own or from someone else to get them (as you know, oncology is not transmitted by airborne droplets). We emphasize right away that most of the ailments that willare described below, are little known to ordinary people and are not found so often. But at the first appearance of at least one of the symptoms of these diseases, immediately go to an oncologist, get tested and take a course of cancer prevention. Well, now let's take a closer look at exactly which ailments are included in the first and second categories, and what their fate is.
Obligate category
This group of diseases is caused exclusively 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, as they stimulate the growth of malignant tumors in the body. In the obligate category, the following diseases should be named:
- All kinds of polyps that can form both on the mucous membranes accessible to humans and in the internal organs. Polyps themselves are neoplasms, and at the slightest failure they become harmful to humans.
- Cysts that form in the 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 is the basis for skin cancer.
- Family 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 cell proliferation leads to the formationmalignant tumor. These polyps can cause colon or stomach cancer.
Optional group
Sometimes an exhaustive answer to the question of what causes cancer is given by specific diseases that are familiar to almost every person. They are not as common as a cold or flu, but they can catch anyone by surprise. Among them we name the following:
- Cervical erosion.
- Papilloma.
- Atrophic gastritis.
- Dermal horn.
- Keratoacanthoma.
- Ulcerative colitis.
But if none of the above was found in the patient, and a malignant tumor formed anyway? Inflammation in any organ, in any mucosa 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 organs. The same applies to ulcers, gastritis, diabetes and so on.
Two treatments for precancer
Many doctors adhere to the so-called rule to cut off the problem or the 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 this 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, the “roots” of the disease remain in the tissues, which in the near future will give new ones."fruit". 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, the next neoplasms will soon grow, perhaps even larger in size and much more dangerous for he alth. It is necessary to be regularly examined, undergo prophylaxis and totally monitor your body.
Stomach
This body seems to serve as 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 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 goes for pancreatitis, ulcers, etc.
So, in short, precancerous diseases of the stomach are a chronic ulcer, polyposis of various parts of the intestine, hypertrophic gastritis, reduced acidity of the stomach. Also, malignant tumors can begin to develop against the background of previous operations to remove a specific part of the stomach.
Prevention
It is believed that the spread and development of stomach cancer depends 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 smokedproducts, 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, there are two types of precancer: the external genital organs and the 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. Also, dry white plaques appear in the process, followed by the formation of sclerosis and tissue wrinkling.
- Vulvar caurosis is characterized by wrinkling and atrophy of the mucous membrane, clitoris and labia minora. As a result, the skin of the external genital organs becomes hypersensitive, and unbearable itching and burning appear.
Precancer in internal genitalia
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 tests, and among them are the following:
- Erosion.
- Vaginal leukoplakia.
- Polyps.
- Erythroplakia.
- Ectropion.
In most cases, precancerous diseases in gynecology require surgical intervention. After the focus of the disease is completely cut out, the patient needs totake a long and regular course of prevention so that the disease does not flare up with renewed vigor.
Cancer in dentistry
He althy should be not only teeth and gums, but all parts of the oral cavity - so say the dentists. You need to monitor the condition of the upper and lower palate, tongue, inside of the cheeks, as well as the lips and even the tonsils. 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 a disease that can even affect the oral cavity. Its development most often originates from completely harmless, at first glance, defects, which can hardly be called a disease. These can be permanent cracks on the lips, a certain color and structure of plaque on the tongue, small pimples and sores on the palate. Therefore, before we proceed to a detailed examination of all the ailments associated with this mucous membrane, we warn you: carefully monitor yourself, pay attention to all the flaws and the moments that worry you. It is better to see a doctor in vain than to regret later.
External changes that indicate precancer
In some cases, you yourself can find some metamorphoses on your body, which will mean that something has gone wrong in the body. Some of these changes may include the following:
- The mucous membrane loses moisture, becomes dry and wrinkled.
- Plots of turbidity appear on it.
- Some of her areas may be de-epidermized.
- Microcracks become a pathology that cannot be cured.
- Increased bleeding. This is due to the fact that the vessels and capillaries become too fragile.
List of diseases and underlying conditions
Precancerous diseases of the oral cavity are also divided into obligate and optional. We note right away that they can be identical in severity, or even an obligate ailment 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 options for the development of events. So, the following are included in the obligate category:
- Erythroplasia of Queyrat, as well as Bowen's disease.
- Abrasive precancerous cheilitis of Manganotti.
- Nodular or warty precancer.
- Organic red border hyperkeratosis.
As it turned out, there are much more facultative precancerous conditions of the oral cavity than obligate ones. Many of them are further transformed into a cancerous tumor in an average of 15 percent of cases. But we still list them:
- Dermal horn.
- Papillomas.
- Erosive and verrucous leukoplakia.
- Keratoacanthoma.
- Presence of ulcers on the mucous membrane (most often they are chronic).
- Permanently chapped lips.
- Chailites of various kinds.
- Post X-ray stomatitis.
- Lichen planus.
- lupus erythematosus.
Summing up
In medical theory, precancerous conditions are specificdiseases that can be treated and prevented. Therefore, it is believed that by detecting them, it is possible to save the patient from death. In practice, it turns out that there are much more such states than described above. The fact is that cancerous tumors can originate in the most unexpected places and organs. They form in areas where inflammatory processes regularly occur. And most importantly, a person himself may not even be aware of these processes. Therefore, you need to monitor your body with special care, regularly undergo medical examinations and take care of yourself.
