Where does cancer most often spread?

Cancer can spread to almost any part of the body, although different types of cancer are more likely to spread to certain areas than others. According to the National Cancer Institute, the most common sites where cancer spreads are the bone, liver, and lung.

Where a cancer spreads often depends on where it started. For example, breast cancer commonly spreads to the bone, brain, liver, and lung. Colon cancer commonly spreads to the liver, lung, and peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). Prostate cancer commonly spreads to the adrenal gland, bone, liver, and lung. Melanoma commonly spreads to the bone, brain, liver, lung, skin, and muscle.

This is a general pattern, not a rule for any one person. The National Cancer Institute notes that cancer cells can also stay inactive at a distant site for many years before they begin to grow again, if at all.

A healthcare team can explain where a specific cancer is most likely to spread and what that means for monitoring and treatment.