When looking at how complex cancer is, from diagnosis to treatment, it prompts the question: is there any way to prevent to prevent cancer?

The idea of taking steps to prevent cancer occurrence is not necessarily a new one. For example, not smoking or quitting smoking, avoiding excessive amounts of red meats, and avoiding products that have carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) in them. But, what about a more direct, medical prevention strategy? For example, cholesterol medications help prevent heart disease. Are there any medications that help prevent cancer? [1]

This more active preventative approach to cancer prevention is termed “cancer interception.” The goal of cancer interception is to combat cancer at its early stages. While medications and supplements for cancer interception are still being studied, a few common examples of this would be aspirin for colorectal cancer and tamoxifen for breast cancer. [1]

A common contributor to cancer development is inflammation, especially when considering colorectal cancer. Consistently taking a low dose of aspirin, an anti-inflammatory, has been shown to decrease colorectal inflammation and therefore, cancer incidence. Another example of a medication used for cancer interception is tamoxifen. It has been discovered that for certain cancers, such as breast cancer, pre-cancerous cell types can be identified. In women who have these pre-cancerous cells, a 5 - 10-year course of tamoxifen is often prescribed to help prevent these cells from turning into cancerous cells. [1] 

 Cancer interception is made difficult by how different cancers can be. However, scientists and doctors are working hard to continue to explore more efficient interception methods to decrease cancer incidence. [1]

References

1.     Blackburn, E. H. Cancer Interception. Cancer Prevention Research 2011, 4 (6), 787–792.

Written and illustrated by Kaylie Lively