Cells that are transforming to cancerous from normal are on a continuum of gradual genetic changes. Those changes often produce visible symptoms in the mouth like discoloration of the cells/tissue to red or white, changes in the texture of the tissue, ulcerations, and tissue that is friable or bleeds easily when touched (these are only a few of the possibilities). Those kinds of symptoms may occur before the cells reach the point which they are fully malignant. Hence the term finding it as a pre cancer.

This is why we can discover cancer before it is fully developed in smokers, but not so much in HPV caused cancers.

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.