Facts about Metastatic Lung Cancer

Metastatic lung cancer is the spread of malignant cells or tumors, originating from other parts of the body, to the lungs. Cancer is the abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of cells beyond normal limits. It spreads to tissues causing destruction of normal physiology. Although, all cancers have the potential to spread to the lungs, the most common causes of metastatic lung cancer are Wilm’s tumor, a common tumor in the kidneys, neuroblastoma, sarcoma and bladder, breast, colon and prostate cancers. Cancer that has metastasized to the lungs may also be caused by primary lung cancer. Metastasis or the spread to other organs is done via the blood stream and/or lymph nodes.

Medical practitioners call the source of the metastasis as the primary cancer. Symptoms include bloody sputum, chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, weight loss and weakness. This type of cancer often remains undetected until these symptoms surface. However, the oncologist may request texts such as a bronchoscopy, chest X-ray, chest CT scan, cytologic examination of the sputum or the pleural fluid and surgical lung biopsy. After the diagnostic studies are taken and interpreted by the physician, he/she may classify the disease into two categories. These include the small cell lung and the non-small cell lung. These classifications are based upon the microscopic presentations of the infected cells. With this diagnostic result, oncologists may order and administer varying treatment options in accordance to the type of cancer present in the body.

Whenever cancer spreads to the lungs, it is an indication that the disease itself has finally proliferated to other parts of the body. Although the prognosis or the outcome is slim, chemotherapy is the golden choice for such cases. Surgery may also be considered, although not beneficial, in order to remove tumors which may or may not be visible through CT scan imaging. In cases where the primary tumor is removed and other adjacent areas of the lung have been infected, surgery can be performed to remove the lung tumors. Surgery will be dependent upon factors such as the primary tumor being curable and the lung tumors being removed.  Furthermore, the overall health and the will of the patient are considered for surgical operations.

Although the prognosis may be slim, some types of metastatic lung cancers which originated from testicular cancers or lymphoma, may be curable with radiation therapy. Lung metastases, like any other disease, also have a list of complications. These include accumulation of fluid in the chest wall and in the lungs which results in shortness of breath, continuous spread of the disease and side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

If you have a history of cancer, experience mysterious weight loss, shortness of breath, cough continuously and cough up blood, you should visit your doctor. Although some types of cancers cannot be prevented, preventive measures such as desisting from smoking, a healthy diet, adequate rest and sleep, limited alcohol intake and exercise may ward off and decrease your chances of developing the disease. 

Haliyma Barrow began her journalism career when she contributed to an IUP's student newspaper.  Since then Haliyma has written a variety of informative health articles covering alternative medicine as well as traditional medicine.

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