What is Lung Cancer Metastases?

Lung cancer metastases or metastatic lung cancer is the name given to a lung cancer that has spread from another part of the body to the lungs, or from the lungs to other places in the body. The originating area, where the cancer began, is called the primary cancer and the lungs are where the cancer has metastasized to.

Cancers in certain parts of the body are more likely to spread to the lungs than others, although, in theory, cancer cells can migrate from any area to another within the body. The most common cancers than metastasize to the lungs are breast, bladder, prostate and colon cancers. In some cases, though, the primary source is not known, or unable to be determined.

Some cancers start in the lungs and metastasize to other parts of the body, most typically the liver, brain and endocrine glands. These metastatic lung cancers are Stage 4 cancers with symptoms similar to those of primary lung cancer.

The stages of a cancer are determined by oncologists using the TNM System, where T stands for the tumor size and position; N represents lymph nodes and the location of those affected by the cancer; M is representative of whether the cancer has metastasized to the other lung or to other areas of the body. Simply put, a stage 4 would be a T, N, M1 – that is, a tumor of any size, which may or may not have nodes, that has metastasized to another part of the lung or area of the body.

The most common symptoms are a persistent cough, pain in the back and chest, coughing up blood and shortness of breath. There may have been repeated attacks of bronchitis or pneumonia and wheezing is quite common. When the cancer has metastasized from another part of the body, the patient may have symptoms that relate to the primary cancer as well as those from the lung cancer.

Metastatic cancers have spread through the body and so there may be symptoms related to other areas. If the tumor has spread to the brain, there could be changes to the vision, headaches or seizures. If the tumor is near the esophagus, the patient might have difficulty with swallowing.

If it has spread to the bones, pain in the hip, back or ribs is common. The patient is also likely to feel fatigue, have a decreased appetite and may lose weight.

Having spread out from the lungs, a stage 4 cancer is generally considered inoperable. However, a stage 4 lung cancer can still be treated with chemotherapy, if the patient is well enough to tolerate it.

There are now newer targeted treatments that are used to extend survival and ease symptoms. Clinical trials are currently in progress to see the results of combining these targeted therapies with traditional chemotherapy. Radiation may be used to help alleviate the symptoms.

Unfortunately, the survival rate for stage 4 metastasized lung cancer is below 10%, with the median survival time currently at about 8 months. Learning all you can about your cancer, keeping hope and a positive attitude in your mind will improve your quality of life.