Can advanced or metastatic cancer be prevented?

For now, the best way to prevent the growth and spread of a cancer is to find the cancer early and remove it or destroy it. The American Cancer Society recommends routine early detection tests for some cancers, such as those of the breast, colon, and cervix. Many people do not know about or do not follow these recommendations. These people are more likely to have cancer found after it has already spread. Because these tests are not perfect, some cancers may spread before they can be found. There are also many cancers that cannot be found early by any of the tests that are used at this time.

Patients with certain cancers, such as breast or colorectal cancer, are often given other treatments after surgery to try to kill cancer cells that might have broken away from the primary tumor. This can lower the risk that the cancer will come back.

Researchers are looking for new ways to keep cancer from spreading. For example, drugs are being studied that might block the enzymes that help cancer cells break holes through the walls of blood vessels.