Last Updated on March 8, 2024 by Partha Protim Choudhury
The spread of any cancer in the body is dangerous. The spread may often occur silently without any symptoms. As a result, the cancer may be difficult to detect. The later the stage of cancer, the harder the treatment. Once cancer is present in different body areas, it limits the treatment options. Moreover, doctors need to use aggressive treatments at advanced stages of cancer. After cancer spreads, the likely progression of the disease is worse than detection at earlier stages. The patient’s quality of life is poorer due to the spread of cancer. In this article, we discuss metastatic lung cancer.
What happens in metastatic lung cancer?
Lung cancer with metastasis is the most advanced stage of lung cancer. In this stage, the lung cancer travels to tissues and bones beyond the chest cavity.
In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there are four stages. Cancer turns metastatic during stage IV of NSCLC. Other than NSCLC, there is another form of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Doctors define SCLC with two staging systems – limited and extensive stages. Cancer can invade outside of the chest cavity in the extensive stage.
The journey of cancer from a primary tumour to a secondary tumour in the body is complicated.
- Detachment and Invasion: Cancer cells break away from the primary tumour and invade areas of more oxygen. They change their shape and behaviour so that the body’s immune system does not attack them.
- Intravasation and Travel: After that, these cells enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system to travel through the body. Inside the bloodstream, cancerous cells beat the pressure of blood flow, avoid getting clotted, and then find the right exit.
- Extravasation and Survival: The cancer cells exit the blood vessels and reach distant organs. They need to survive and adapt to the new environment. They release chemicals to interact with other cells and develop new blood vessels to receive nutrients. They avoid attack by the body’s immune cells.
- Colonization and Growth: If conditions are favourable, the cancer cells can start to multiply and form a secondary tumour in the distant organ.
What are the symptoms of metastatic lung cancer?
Most lung cancer cases do not show obvious symptoms. However, general symptoms that appear in lung cancer are chest pain, persistent coughing, blood in cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, and unexplained weight loss. There are additional symptoms in the advanced lung cancer stage. It depends on the organ to which cancer migrates.
When lung cancer invades lymph nodes, it may form lumps or nodules. For example, lumps in the armpit.
Lung cancer may invade the bones, such as the ribs. In this case, the patient may suffer from bone pain.
Brain metastasis is most common in lung cancer. The symptoms present according to the affected part of the brain. Headaches, slurred speech, memory issues, and unsteadiness are some of the symptoms.
The lung cancer may even migrate into the adrenal glands and liver. Cancer invasion of the adrenal glands may cause abdominal discomfort and a lump in the abdomen. Hormonal imbalances may even occur.
Is metastatic lung cancer curable?
Cancer Research UK suggests that no cure is possible for advanced lung cancer with metastasis. Along with the team of doctors, there can be management of symptoms. The patient’s quality of life may improve with treatment. Furthermore, a study shows that the type of cancer, age at diagnosis, and sex influence the patterns of cancer migration and invasion. Survival was lesser in men, older patients, and patients with liver and bone metastasis. It also shows that metastatic lung cancer life expectancy stage 4 is 5 months. It may be over 12 months depending on the treatment.
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