Learn About Lung Metastases
Lung metastases are cancerous tumors that start somewhere else in the body and spread to the lungs.
Metastases to the lung; Metastatic cancer to the lung; Lung cancer - metastases; Lung mets
Metastatic tumors in the lungs are cancers that developed at other places in the body (or other parts of the lungs). They then spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to the lungs. It is different than lung cancer that starts in the lungs.
Nearly any cancer can spread to the lungs. Common cancers include:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Melanoma
- Ovarian cancer
- Sarcoma
- Thyroid cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Testicular cancer
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Bloody sputum
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Weight loss
Chemotherapy is often used to treat metastatic cancer to the lung. Surgery to remove the tumors may be done when any of the following occurs:
- The cancer has spread to only limited areas of the lung
- The lung tumors can be completely removed with surgery
However, the main tumor must be curable, and the person must be strong enough to go through the surgery and recovery.
Other treatments include:
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted systemic therapy
- The placement of stents inside the airways
- Laser therapy
- Using local heat probes to destroy the cancer
- Using very cold temperature to destroy the cancer
Aurora Pulmonology
Raul Ayala is a Pulmonary Medicine provider in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dr. Ayala is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lung Metastases. His top areas of expertise are Lung Metastases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema, Lung Nodules, and Advanced Bronchoscopy.
Advocate Medical Group Pulmonology
Agop Tepeli is a Pulmonary Medicine provider in Hazel Crest, Illinois. Dr. Tepeli is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lung Metastases. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Lung Metastases, Lung Nodules, Advanced Bronchoscopy, and Gastrostomy.
Aurora Pulmonary & Sleep Services
Steven Leh is a Pulmonary Medicine provider in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Leh is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lung Metastases. His top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, Lung Metastases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Pleural Effusion, and Advanced Bronchoscopy.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.
A cure is unlikely in most cases of cancers that have spread to the lungs. But the outlook depends on the main cancer. In some cases, a person can live more than 5 years with metastatic cancer to the lungs.
Complications of metastatic tumors in the lungs may include:
- Fluid between the lung and chest wall (pleural effusion), which can cause shortness of breath or pain when taking a deep breath
- Further spread of the cancer
Contact your provider if you have a history of cancer and you develop:
- Coughing up blood
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
Not all cancers can be prevented. However, many can be prevented by:
- Eating healthy foods
- Exercising regularly
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Not smoking
Summary: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Surgical resection is one of the primary treatment options for CRC; however, postoperative recurrence remains a significant clinical challenge for both the medical community and patients. Postoperative chemotherapy, as an important adjuvant therapy, is widely used in CRC patients aiming to reduce the risk of recurrence. Despite ext...
Summary: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common form of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The traditional first line treatment for patients with advanced DTC after surgical resection is radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. However, less than a quarter of patients with lung metastases will achieve a complete response to RAI therapy, and this therapy carries the risk of pulmonary fibrosis and an i...
Published Date: June 17, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Arenberg DA, Reddy RM. Metastatic malignant tumors. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 79.
Hayman J, Naidoo J, Ettinger DS. Lung metastases. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 57.
Wald O, Izhar U, Sugarbaker DJ. Lung, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 58.