What Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer Metastasis?

Cancer may develop in one area of the body and later spread elsewhere. This spread to other parts is called metastasis; the disease then becomes metastatic cancer in its form.

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Primary and secondary cancer are frequently confused concepts concerning metastasis. For example, lung cancer may spread to the liver. This is not called liver cancer, but lung cancer metastatic to the liver or metastatic lung cancer. The lung tumor is the primary cancer, while the metastatic tumor formation in the liver is the secondary cancer.

Metastatic cancer relates more to the organ of origin, the primary cancer, than to the organ containing the metastasis. Microscopic examination shows that metastatic cancer cells continue retaining the primary cancer's characteristics.

Being told cancer has recurred generally may mean the primary cancer has returned. For example, lung cancer developing again at the same lung site after treatment is called relapse or recurrence. If cancer develops in a previously unaffected lung area or another organ, these formations are called recurrent metastatic tumors.

Which Organs Does Lung Cancer Metastasize To?

If lung cancer spreads, it tends to metastasize to the following organs:

• Adrenal glands
• Bones
• Brain
• Liver
• Lymph nodes

In rare cases, intestines, stomach, pancreas and kidneys may also be sites of lung cancer spread.

Cancer cells spread by growing into neighboring tissues or breaking away from the primary tumor and entering blood and lymph circulation.

Symptoms of Metastatic Lung Cancer

Symptoms and complaints caused by metastatic lung cancer relate to the area of spread. However, these symptoms may be very general or related to other causes.

It is important to note that metastatic cancer does not always cause signs and symptoms.

Most Common Symptoms of Metastatic Lung Cancer:

Adrenal Glands

Cancer spreading to the adrenal glands generally causes no complaints. However, adrenaline levels may decrease, causing weakness and fatigue.

Bones

Among stage 4. lung cancer patients, %40 have bone metastases. Bone metastasis most commonly causes pain. The risk of fractures also increases.

Brain

Brain metastases develop more often in non-small cell lung cancer (%85), and in an average of %20 to %40 of all lung cancers. Their main symptoms are headache, imbalance, weakness and nausea.

Liver

Decreased appetite, nausea after eating and pain beneath the ribs may indicate lung cancer spread to the liver. Yellowing skin and whites of the eyes are another sign.

Lymph nodes

Lymph nodes in the armpits, above the collarbone, in the neck and around the stomach may enlarge when lung cancer metastasizes. Nodes felt in these areas or detected by radiological imaging may indicate lung cancer metastasis. However, lymph nodes can also swell in other conditions, particularly infections.

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