precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous (ˌ)prē-ˈkan(t)s-rəs 
-ˈkan(t)-sə-
: tending to become cancerous
a precancerous lesion
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web It’s like a bad debt that presents itself as prematurely aged or precancerous skin many years later. 
Nina G. Jablonski, The Conversation, 6 Sep. 2022 Research in gastroenterology is keenly interested in artificial intelligence, for example, but its applications have been surprisingly narrow, with heavy emphasis thus far on augmenting the successful endoscopic detection of precancerous lesions. Wired, 11 Aug. 2022 Doctors found a polyp in her large intestine that was likely precancerous. Anchorage Daily News, 21 July 2022 In 2019, Will Smith filmed his own colonoscopy when doctors found a precancerous polyp and shared the results in a 17-minute long video on YouTube. Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 21 Dec. 2021 Routine screening and removal of precancerous lesions can reduce the risk of developing anal cancer for high-risk patients, according to a national study that has the potential to change current guidance for screening and treatment. Brianna Abbott, WSJ, 15 June 2022 Dardick said a precancerous growth was removed from the patient’s skin nine years ago and is no longer being treated. Christopher Rowland, Washington Post, 5 June 2022 Screenings for cancers including breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung can help spot disease at early or even precancerous stages, often improving a patient’s prognosis. Brianna Abbott, WSJ, 3 June 2022 While these cysts can occasionally develop into ovarian cancer, many of them are not precancerous. Serena Coady, SELF, 25 Feb. 2022 See More
Nina G. Jablonski, The Conversation, 6 Sep. 2022 Research in gastroenterology is keenly interested in artificial intelligence, for example, but its applications have been surprisingly narrow, with heavy emphasis thus far on augmenting the successful endoscopic detection of precancerous lesions. Wired, 11 Aug. 2022 Doctors found a polyp in her large intestine that was likely precancerous. Anchorage Daily News, 21 July 2022 In 2019, Will Smith filmed his own colonoscopy when doctors found a precancerous polyp and shared the results in a 17-minute long video on YouTube. Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 21 Dec. 2021 Routine screening and removal of precancerous lesions can reduce the risk of developing anal cancer for high-risk patients, according to a national study that has the potential to change current guidance for screening and treatment. Brianna Abbott, WSJ, 15 June 2022 Dardick said a precancerous growth was removed from the patient’s skin nine years ago and is no longer being treated. Christopher Rowland, Washington Post, 5 June 2022 Screenings for cancers including breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung can help spot disease at early or even precancerous stages, often improving a patient’s prognosis. Brianna Abbott, WSJ, 3 June 2022 While these cysts can occasionally develop into ovarian cancer, many of them are not precancerous. Serena Coady, SELF, 25 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous -ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs
: tending to become cancerous : premalignant
a precancerous lesion