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Cancer becomes metastatic when it grows and spreads from where it originally started to another part of the body. Metastatic lung cancer develops primarily in the lungs and later spreads to distant organs and tissues. It can also be referred to as advanced lung cancer or end-stage lung cancer due to the severity of symptoms and higher risk of serious complications.
Lung cancer metastasis (spread) usually doesn’t occur in the early stage of the disease. However, depending on the type of lung cancer you have, cancer cells may grow and spread faster in some people than in others. For instance, small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which is a less common type of lung cancer, grows and spreads faster than non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for about 80–85% of lung cancer cases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Unfortunately, when cancer metastasizes, it also becomes more challenging to treat. However, treatments like immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy can help manage the symptoms, improve the quality of life, and prolong life.
Lung cancer often starts causing symptoms when the disease progresses. Thus, metastatic lung cancer may cause symptoms like:
If you’re living with metastatic lung cancer, you may also experience additional symptoms based on which organs cancer cells spread to. Consider the following examples:
| Where Cancer Cells Spread | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Bones | Bone soreness, joint pain, and a higher risk of fractures |
| Brain | Headaches, confusion, dizziness, and seizures |
| Liver | Nausea, jaundice, and abdominal swelling |
| Lymph nodes | Swollen lymph nodes in the armpits and swelling |
Lung cancer develops when lung cells start growing and multiplying out of control. This often results in the formation of a tumor. Researchers are unsure why this abnormal cell growth occurs in some people. But over the years, they have found out that smoking is the major risk factor for lung cancer. Being exposed to secondhand smoke, radon, arsenic, and asbestos and having a family history of cancer can also increase the risk of this condition.
However, lung cancer becomes metastatic when existing cancer cells spread to other areas, organs, and tissue in your body. The cancer cells can get to other organs by:
- Entering nearby tissue
- Breaking away from the primary tumor and moving through the blood to other body parts
- Spreading via the lymphatic system
The risk of lung cancer metastasis also increases as the condition advances and if you’re not receiving treatment for your cancer. Each type of cancer can spread to different parts of the body, but common metastasis sites for lung cancer include the brain, liver, bones, and lymph nodes.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of lung cancer or already have a diagnosis but are noticing that your symptoms are worsening, it’s essential to receive care from a healthcare provider. There are several tests your healthcare team can use to diagnose metastatic lung cancer, including:
- Imaging test: Uses X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, positron emission tomography (PET) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to generate clear images that reveal tumors
- Blood test: Assesses overall health, which can sometimes indicate if cancer cells have spread to the blood, bone marrow, or other organs
- Bone scan: Checks if cancer has spread to the bones and bloodstream
- Bronchoscopy: Involves the use of a tiny camera that gets inserted inside your lungs to check for cancer cells, the size of the tumor, and if cancer has spread outside the lungs
- Lumbar puncture: Takes a sample of your cerebrospinal fluid from the lower part of your spine to see if cancer has spread to the brain
- Lung biopsy: Removes a sample of your tissue from your chest wall or lymph nodes to check for the presence of cancer cells
If you receive a diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer, the goal of treatment is to improve your quality of life by focusing on slowing down the progression of the disease and managing symptoms. Your exact treatment plan will depend on several factors, like age, the size of the tumor, what parts of the body the cancer has spread to, and overall health.
Your healthcare team may recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
- Chemotherapy: Kills cancer cells to slow down their growth and spread
- Immunotherapy: Boosts your immune system’s ability to help fight cancer cells
- Targeted therapy: Aims to slow down the growth of cancer cells using drugs that target specific proteins or genetic mutations
- Radiation therapy: Helps shrink tumors
- Surgery: Removes tumors, but is not usually recommended if cancer has spread too widely
In some cases where cancer has spread to different parts of the body, it becomes difficult to control. If the disease is not curative, your treatment team will work with you to ensure you are aware of any potential treatments that may slow down the disease and maintain quality of life.
When lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it can cause several complications, such as:
- Fluid build-up in the lungs
- Painful swallowing
- Higher risk of infections
- Blood clots
- Spinal cord compression
- Loss of bladder control
- Weakness in the limbs or difficulty walking
However, lung cancer treatment can also cause its own set of complications, like hair loss, pain, nausea, weight loss, lethargy, and low mood.
Living with metastatic lung cancer can be difficult and overwhelming. It’s not just the physical symptoms that affect your quality of life but also the emotional hardships you may face on this journey.
Despite these challenges, support is available. Your healthcare team is a good resource for care. However, it’s just as important to lean on your loved ones for emotional support. Joining a support group or talking to a mental health provider about your diagnosis and treatment journey can also help.
It’s worth remembering that your diagnosis doesn’t define you. So, continue living your life to the fullest, be present in the moment, and take each day at a time. Participating in activities that you enjoy and spending time with the people you love is what matters.
