precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
| \ (ˌ)prē-ˈkan(t)s-rəs
, -ˈkan(t)-sə-\
, -ˈkan(t)-sə-\
Definition of precancerous
: tending to become cancerous
a precancerous lesion
Examples of precancerous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Exact Sciences, based in Madison, has developed a non-invasive test that analyzes stool samples for blood cells and DNA associated with colon cancer and precancerous growths. — Guy Boulton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Exact Sciences to buy company with diagnostic test for breast cancer for $2.8 billion," 29 July 2019 There had been precancerous tumors, open wounds, unmanaged heart conditions, and more than a dozen people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who kept wheezing for air. — Eli Saslow, Washington Post, "‘Urgent needs from head to toe’: This clinic had two days to fix a lifetime of needs," 22 June 2019 Sunburns raise your risk for permanent skin damage and certain diseases, including premature aging, precancerous skin lesions, and skin cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "How Long a Sunburn Lasts Before Fading Away — And How to Make It Heal Faster," 17 Apr. 2019 The results, which appeared in The Lancet in 2001, showed that patients who applied the T4N5 developed significantly fewer cancerous and precancerous lesions than the placebo group. — Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, "DNA-Repairing Sunscreen: Legit or Not?," 2 July 2018 In the cervix, persistent infection with high-risk HPV types can lead to precancerous changes that, left alone, slowly turn malignant. — Marie Mccullough, chicagotribune.com, "HPV is causing an oral cancer epidemic in men by outwitting natural defenses," 12 Mar. 2018 In the cervix, persistent infection with high-risk HPV types can lead to precancerous changes that, left alone, slowly turn malignant. — Marie Mccullough, miamiherald, "Oral sex is causing an oral cancer epidemic in men by outwitting natural defenses | Miami Herald," 8 Mar. 2018 The company said its test had an overall accuracy of 84 to 88 percent for detecting cancer or precancerous growths and a false alarm rate around 3 percent. — Time, "Scientists Make Progress on Blood Test to Detect the Most Deadly Cancers," 20 Jan. 2018 The larger issue is that physicians don’t yet have a reliable way to distinguish precancerous cases that will remain harmless from those that will become invasive. — Quanta Magazine, "Tracking the Evolution of Cancer, Cell by Cell," 13 Nov. 2013These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'precancerous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for precancerous
precancerous
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of precancerous
medical
: likely to become cancerous
See the full definition for precancerous in the English Language Learners Dictionary
precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
| \ -ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs
\
\
Medical Definition of precancerous
: tending to become cancerous : premalignant
a precancerous lesion