change MySQL field type if field exists

I have the following query:

ALTER TABLE table CHAN开发者_开发百科GE field1 field1 INTEGER

Is there anyway that I can add some sort of if exists to this statement so that MySQL will make sure that field 1 exists before attempting to change its field type?

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ALTER TABLE in MySql does not take an IF EXISTS clause.

You can do a

describe table 

or

show columns from table

to get the list of all columns and then check if field1 is present before you do a ALTER TABLE