Treatment of Lung Metastasis

Lung metastasis is a term used to describe lung cancer that has spread, or metastasized, beyond the lung tissue. While metastasized lung cancer can occur anywhere in the body, it is most typically found in the liver, brain, bones or adrenal glands. Cancer may also spread from one lung to its opposite member. Lung metastasis is usually a fatal complication, and treatments typically seek not a cure but a curbing of the cancer's effects.

Treating Isolated Metastasis

• If you are diagnosed with lung metastasis, it is important to recognize that the cancer cells that spread to other parts of the body are still lung cancer cells and are treated as such. There is a possibility that your cancer has only spread to one or two isolated areas. If this is true, you may be a candidate for the more localized forms of cancer treatment normally reserved for less advanced cases of the disease. Potential options include radiation therapy and surgery.

  Radiation therapy involves the use of focused external X-ray radiation to disrupt or destroy cancer cells in a given location. While internal radiation treatments are also available, these are rarely used to treat lung cancer cells. If your metastasized cancer forms distinct tumors, as may happen if your other lung becomes involved, these may be surgically removed. You will also likely receive chemotherapy drugs as part of treatment. These system-wide medications---which are administered either intravenously or orally---can destroy cancer cells throughout the body, and they will greatly enhance the safety margin of localized therapies.

Treating Advanced Metastasis

• In most cases, lung metastasis extends beyond the scope of localized treatment. If this is true for you, treatment will center on the use of chemotherapy, supportive care and a newer drug therapy called targeted therapy. You may also be encouraged to participate in a sanctioned trial for experimental medications.

  Targeted therapy is the result of close study of the inner workings of cancer cells. Over the years, researchers have found that certain structures inside cancer cells are vulnerable to chemical attack. These structures vary between different forms of cancer, but once a vulnerability is found, it can be exploited. Targeted therapy treatments for lung cancer include the drugs bevacizumab (Avastin) and erlotinib (Tarceva). While the potential side effects of erlotinib are relatively minor, bevacizumab use comes with a possibility of severe bleeding. Be aware that if you have the metastasized form of the disease called small cell lung cancer (SCLC), targeted therapy is not typically used.

The Decision to End Treatment

• If your cancer is far advanced, you and your doctor may choose to suspend treatments designed to curb its spread and switch to treatments designed to ease your pain and discomfort. A big part of this supportive care is a reduction or ending of the side effects of your cancer medications. Consult your cancer specialist for more details on each phase of treatment for lung metastasis, as well as for information on any suitable clinical trials.