Metastatic Lung Cancer: What are Some Potential Causes? | Blog | BASS Medical Group

The majority of cells have a short life cycle. New ones emerge when they expire. When lung cells in the lungs continue to divide without dying, lung cancer begins to form.

The extra cells grow into a tumor. As it expands, it needs more room, and it begins to colonize other places. Metastasis of cancer occurs at this phase.

Cancer cells can spread in two ways: either by penetrating adjacent tissue or by rupturing the tumor and dispersing it to distant regions of the body through the circulation or lymphatic system.

It's critical to understand that cancer cells can:

• Develop on neighboring tissue or into it, forming a new tumor
• Grow through the adjacent blood vessels' walls
• Live in blood vessels
• Stimulate the development of blood vessels that feed the tumor with more blood and oxygen

Lung Cancer Symptoms

Not all cases of metastatic cancer exhibit symptoms. The precise type of lung cancer symptom, if any, depends on the body part affected.

Discover locations that metastatic lung cancer frequently affects below, along with some potential symptoms.

Thyroid and adrenal glands

Adrenal cancer normally doesn't show any signs until it has progressed to the glands. However, a big tumor may result in back or abdominal pain.

Cancer can induce adrenal insufficiency, which can result in a lack of appetite, fever, weakness, exhaustion, nausea, and other symptoms if it affects at least 90% of both glands.

Bones

Bone metastases affect 30­–40% of patients with advanced lung cancer. The predominant symptom in this situation is pain, and the likelihood of fractures rises.

Brain

Brain metastases affect 20–35% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer symptoms include headaches, disorientation, fatigue, nausea, and weakness.

Liver

The symptoms of liver cancer include lack of appetite, nausea after meals, and discomfort beneath the right ribcage. Yet another sign is jaundice. The skin and eye whites will be yellow as a result of this.

Lymph glands

Lung cancer may have spread if the lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, and stomach are enlarged.

But it's important to remember that these nodes might also enlarge in reaction to other medical conditions.

What Areas of the Body Does Lung Cancer Affect

If lung cancer invades a new territory, it frequently does so in the:

• Brain
• Liver
• Lymph glands
• Unaffected lung
• Bones
• Thyroid and adrenal glands

Ways Metastatic Lung Cancer is Detected?

Checking the locations where lung cancer commonly metastasizes requires searching for metastases.

Diagnostic tests entail:

• Tests on blood
• Bone x-rays
• X-rays
• A CT scan
• MRI images
• Ultrasound exams

Treatment of Metastatic Lung Cancer

The goals of therapy for lung cancer that has spread are to slow the disease's progression and treat its symptoms. Getting rid of cancer that has spread throughout the body can be challenging.

The lung cancer kind, the site of the metastases, any prior treatments, and the patient's general condition all influence the therapy choices.

Options consist of:

• Chemotherapy
• Biologic treatment
• Radiation treatment
• Laser treatment if a tumor is partially obstructing an airway

What can be done to stop Metastatic Lung Cancer

It is not always feasible to stop the spread of lung cancer or prevent its occurrence. But it can help if you stay away from items that raise your chance of getting lung cancer. One avoidable risk factor is smoking.

Additionally, early detection and therapy may stop the progress of the disease as treatment is more likely to be successful in the early stages.

However, because there are sometimes no symptoms in the early stages, getting a diagnosis quickly might be difficult. Because lung cancer might be found during an early stage while it is still treatable, screening is crucial.

Getting Help

The comfort and quality of life of someone with metastatic lung cancer can be improved with treatments and lifestyle changes. The assistance of friends, family, and medical professionals can help a person cope with the psychological effects and day-to-day difficulties of having cancer.

We have a lot of expertise in treating metastatic lung cancer at Bass Medical Group. With suggestions made specifically for each patient's individual needs, we provide our patients with a comprehensive choice of therapy alternatives. Our oncologists analyze the cellular makeup of the main tumor as well as the size and location of the secondary tumor while treating metastatic lung cancer to decide the best course of action.