Lung cancer is a cancer of the lungs, and people who smoke on a regular basis are more likely to suffer from it. There are two major types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell Lung Cancer Spreads. The symptoms are quite similar for each of them, but it is important to approach the oncologist as soon as possible.
Along with approaching the medical oncologist, it is important to understand the parts of which it affects. In later stages, lung cancer starts to affect other organs as well. Let’s discuss them in detail!
How Long Can Cancer Spread?
In general, lung cancer spreads when cancer cells break off from the primary tumor and then reach the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The lymphatic system has a network of muscles and organs that are responsible for carrying out and collecting substances, including cancer cells, from the body.
Common areas for lung cancer to spread are:
- Lymph nodes
- Bones
- Brain
- Liver
- Adrenal glands
In less common stages, it spreads to the intestines, pancreas, stomach, eyes, skin, kidneys, or breast.
Lymph Nodes:
In the case of most lung cancers, the cancer cells first spread to lymph nodes within the lungs or around the major airways. Lymph nodes are found throughout the body, specifically on the skin. They are smaller versions of our lymphatic system, which absorbs and filters foreign substances.
When cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes, it isn’t considered metastatic. It is only when you find it has spread to distant lymph nodes that stage 4 cancer is diagnosed.
People who’ve been diagnosed with cancer sometimes notice their lymph nodes start to feel swollen or tingly. This is due to the spread of cancer among them.
When cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and some other sites in the body at a more advanced stage, you may notice a lump in the neck or armpit with cancer cells.
People often associate surgery with an emergency. However, surgery is the first-line treatment for early-stage cancer, which includes removing some or all of your lymph nodes near where the cancer was found. Other treatments, such as radiation therapy and surgery, may be used to treat cancer.
Bone:
Lung cancer metastases to bones are a serious complication that can lead to death. One of the most common symptoms of metastases is bone pain, and it often occurs in the spine and ribs.
Bone metastases typically affect the following areas:
- Spine
- The upper arm bone
- Hands and feet,
- Pelvis
- Thighbone
Many people who have advanced cancer experience pain to varying degrees. With cancer, the bone can sometimes weaken and lead to a pathologic fracture. Sometimes it is necessary to have a bone removed because of this complication.
Many people are not aware that the slow breakup of bone also takes place, which also increases calcium levels in the blood. This leads to hypercalcemia, a condition that can cause muscle weakness, confusion, and a loss of appetite, among other things.
If lung cancer spreads to the spine, it can lead to spinal cord compression and nerve damage during treatment.
Spinal cord compression is a serious condition that can lead to paralysis. If spinal cord compression is not treated, it can eventually lead to death. There are two primary types of spinal cord compression: cervical and thoracic, and symptoms vary depending on which area the pressure is applied. Early symptoms of cervical compression include tingling in the hands, feet, arms, and legs.
Brain:
Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer that spreads to the brain and can even develop into brain metastases. Anyone with a history of lung cancer should conduct regular scans of their head for signs of such tumors. This can be difficult for both patients and their caregivers to navigate, which is why it’s important to do everything possible to detect this disease early on.
When lung cancer has spread to the brain, symptoms can develop that are similar to those of other types of cancer. This typically includes:
- Headaches, often with nausea or vomiting,
- Memory loss
- Seizures
- numbness or weakness on one side of the body.
- Confusion
- Vision loss
This particular type of treatment aims to control symptoms such as pain and anti-seizure rather than cure the disease. The goals might include using pain medications, using radiation leading to shrinking the tumor and taking steroidal medication.
Liver:
People with advanced-stage lung cancer can develop liver metastasis about 30–50% of the time. This disease is quite common and affects many people all over the world.
Some people may experience liver-specific symptoms with liver metastases, but most don’t. They might experience
- Loss of appetite
- Leg swelling
- Itching
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Chemotherapy is often the first line of defense for cancer treatment. This procedure involves injecting transarterial chemoembolization directly into the tumors in order to kill cancer cells in the liver. It is also useful in some cases when there are cancer cells in other areas of the body, such as the brain.
Adrenal Glands:
The adrenal glands are two small organs that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce hormones that regulate many different bodily functions. They are “master glands” because they control the secretion of other glands throughout the body, such as those in your digestive system, reproductive organs, and sweat glands. Most lung cancers have little to no symptoms and can only be detected during regular staging. This type of cancer is common in older patients with an average age of 70–75 years old.
Chemotherapy is a process used to destroy cancer cells in the body to stop their growth and spread. It is often used as a treatment option for many types of cancer. In some cases, there is a need to remove to adrenal gland as well.
Here we have discussed how cancer spreads. It is important to understand that it affects all the organs if one has not taken the treatment. You need to approach the best medical oncologist in town. For all those who are looking for the best oncologist, Jaipur is the destination.
Here you can contact Dr. Tara Chand Gupta and start the treatment immediately. He has years of experience in treating such conditions and helping people live their lives carefree. He is the best Medical Oncologist in Jaipur whom you can approach and trust for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does lung cancer most commonly spread to?
Lung cancer most commonly spreads to the lymph nodes, ribs, pleura, or diaphragm. These regions are sometimes neglected during self-exams because they do not typically cause symptoms like shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, or fever.
- The lymph nodes are located in the neck, behind the collarbone, and in front of the armpit.
- The ribs are located at both ends of our rib cage.
- Pleura is a thin layer covering our lungs and other organs.
- A diaphragm is a sheet-like muscle between our chest and stomach that helps with breathing.
Where does lung cancer start?
Lung cancer starts in the lungs, but doctors are still debating whether or not it actually starts in the air sacs.
This is a tricky situation because there are no clear-cut conclusions. However, some experts believe that the tumor begins in the air sacs. This is because they are where the blood vessels that carry oxygen to healthy cells are located, which would make it easier for tumors to thrive.
Where does lung cancer hurt?
Lung cancer is a deadly disease. It can occur anywhere in the lungs and has a tendency to spread quickly. It most commonly causes pain in the chest or on the left side, but it can form tumors anywhere in the lungs.
What does lung cancer feel like when it starts?
When a person begins to experience the signs of lung cancer, there are typically three different phases. The first phase is when the cancer is having a position and doctors diagnose it. In this phase, the person begins to notice changes in their breathing. As time passes, they may begin to feel a lump in their chest or a persistent cough that seems to last a long time.
The coughing is often accompanied by a shortage of saliva and an unpleasant taste in their mouths or noses. These often indicate that cancer has spread beyond the lungs and into other parts of the body.
In the third phase, lung cancer becomes more aggressive and spreads throughout the body, which can lead to death if not treated properly.