| Cancers that can spread from their original locations | | | | MRIs, PET scans, or biopsies. |
| are called secondary cancers. This process, called | | | | Symptoms of cancers can interrupt daily activities for |
| metastasizing, moves the cancers through the | | | | sufferers. But there are ways to manage and treat |
| bloodstream, lymphatic system, or by direct | | | | the symptoms. Medication can help address |
| extension to a new location. One or many of the | | | | symptoms such as breathlessness, cough and chest |
| cancerous cells of the primary cancer (where the | | | | pain. Other symptoms must be managed by the |
| disease originated) can break off and slip into the | | | | patient through awareness. Some patients begin to |
| bloodstream or lymphatic system to reach other | | | | fear they will choke, due to their increased difficulty |
| organs. | | | | with breathing, but should be aware that this is |
| Cancerous cells in the lungs as well can appear there | | | | unlikely. Others may be distressed by coughing up |
| without having originated there; in children, cancers of | | | | blood, but should know that coughing up a little blood |
| the lungs usually manifest through this process. | | | | is not unusual to patients with cancer in the lungs. |
| Cancer that appears in the lungs but did not originate | | | | Only those coughing up large amounts of blood need |
| there is called secondary lung cancer. Even though it | | | | to seek treatment for this symptom. |
| affects the lungs, this cancer is named according to | | | | Cancer of the lungs can also cause a build up of fluid |
| the type of cancer it originated from, the primary | | | | in the lungs, a condition termed pleural effusion. This |
| cancer. For example, breast cancer that spreads to | | | | fluid may be drained out of the lungs to relieve pain |
| the lungs and becomes a secondary lung cancer | | | | and difficulty breathing, though it may build up again |
| would still be considered breast cancer. | | | | over time. Treatment for lung cancer is similar to that |
| While nearly every type of cancer has the ability to | | | | for primary lung cancer, and includes surgery, |
| metastasize and spread to the lungs, some do so | | | | chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, |
| more commonly than others. Secondary lung cancer | | | | chemotherapy is the preferred treatment option. This |
| is usually a result of bladder, breast, prostate, or | | | | is because as a secondary cancer, it is an indication |
| colon cancer. Sarcoma, Wilms tumor and | | | | that the primary cancer has spread into the |
| neuroblastoma also tend to migrate to the lungs. | | | | bloodstream. In such cases, removing visible tumors |
| In addition to being a disease in itself, is also usually | | | | through surgery is not effective, as other cancerous |
| an indication that the primary cancer has reached an | | | | cells can be present in the body without being visible. |
| advanced stage, though this is not always the case. | | | | Chemotherapy can target even those cells CT scans |
| Signs of lung cancer include persistent cough, | | | | cannot see, making it the most common treatment |
| breathlessness, coughing up blood, and chest pain. | | | | choice. |
| These symptoms, in addition to being similar to those | | | | However, a cure is unlikely and the five-year survival |
| for primary lung cancer, also mimic several less | | | | rate for those diagnosed with secondary lung cancer |
| serious diseases. A diagnosis of secondary lung | | | | is not promising. The cancer can sometimes be cured |
| cancer may therefore require x-rays, CT scans, | | | | via surgery, but this outcome is rare. |