What types of cancer metastasize to the lungs?

Cancerous tumors of the skin, breast, and prostate can metastasize to the lungs, making treatment difficult.

Lung metastasis (secondary lung cancer) is cancer that has spread from another part of the body to the lungs. This is common because many cancers spread to this organ.

According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the most common cancers that metastasize to the lungs are breast, bladder, colon, rectal, kidney, ovarian, uterine, pancreatic, prostate, thyroid, and melanoma cancers. Lung metastasis also frequently occurs in sarcomas—a type of cancer that begins in bone or muscle tissue, although less common. Approximately 20% of soft tissue sarcomas and 40% of bone sarcomas migrate to the lungs.

When metastasis occurs, a tumor that starts in the esophagus or chest wall can spread directly to the lungs. However, most cancer cells travel indirectly to the lungs through three pathways. Cancer cells enter small blood vessels near the tumor and are transported to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries, a process called hematogenous spread. Lymphatic spread occurs when tumor cells travel through small lymphatic vessels and along the lymphatic pathway, including to the lymph nodes. Pleural and airway spread is limited to lung tumors and is less common.

Lung metastases often do not cause symptoms. In some cases, lung metastases can have symptoms similar to primary lung cancer (the tumor that started in the lungs). These conditions include persistent cough, coughing up blood; chest, shoulder, and back pain; shortness of breath, low blood oxygen levels, and pleural effusion. Fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and loss of appetite are also common in patients with metastatic cancer.

Chest X-rays, PET scans, chest CT scans, lung biopsies, pleural fluid analysis, and bronchoscopy are used to diagnose metastatic lung cancer. Treatment may include chemotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these.

Chemotherapy is commonly used as palliative therapy to prolong survival and reduce symptoms. Metastatic cancer is usually incurable. In rare cases, chemotherapy can cure testicular cancer that has metastasized to the lungs.

Inhaled chemotherapy is being studied to deliver therapeutic drugs directly to the lungs, which may be more effective and have fewer side effects. Complete surgical removal of the primary tumor and all metastases may improve survival rates.

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the five-year survival rate after diagnosis of lung metastasis depends on the primary tumor. For example, the five-year survival rate for testicular cancer metastasizing to the lungs is 74%, for breast cancer metastasis it is 28%, and for ovarian cancer spreading to the lungs it is nearly 15%.

Mai Cat (According to Very Well Health )

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