How Fast Does Lung Cancer Spread?

Does Lung Cancer Spread Quickly?

Yes, lung cancer may spread rapidly through the body, although a wide range of factors impact how tumors grow.

Lung cancer can spread because malignant cells grow at an out-of-control rate. These cells collect into tumors and can also migrate to other parts of the body.

How Fast Does Lung Cancer Spread? Quick Facts

• Lung tumors initially spread to areas like the pleura (lung lining), diaphragm (space between lungs), and nearby lymph nodes. In advanced cases, tumors can be found in the bones, brain, liver, and more.
• Doctors use a metric called volume doubling time (VDT) to assess how quickly tumors grow and spread. Lung cancer tumors doubled in size in less than a year’s time on average, according to a 2023 Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology report.
• The specific type of lung cancer a patient has, their response to treatments, and other factors all play a role in how their lung cancer will spread.

Many lung cancer patients are not diagnosed until the later stages, by which point their cancer has spread. While this can be scary, it’s important to know that doctors have treatments available to manage lung cancer spread and help patients live as long as possible.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to explore treatments that can help you or a loved one manage lung cancer that has spread.

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Lung Cancer Spread vs. Metastasis

Lung cancer metastasis is a term reserved for when tumors have reached distant organs beyond the lungs and chest cavity. If you have metastatic lung cancer, the cancer has spread very far throughout your body.

However, just because lung cancer has spread, it does not mean that it has metastasized. Many lung cancer patients have been successfully treated and become survivors even in cases where their cancer has spread locally or regionally.

How Fast Does Lung Cancer Spread By Type?

There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is more common and doesn’t spread as quickly.

Learn more about how each type of lung cancer spreads below.

How Fast Does Small Cell Lung Cancer Spread?

Cases of small cell lung cancer often quickly spread and metastasize. In fact, 60% of SCLC patients are diagnosed only after the tumors have metastasized, according to Yale Medicine.

In cases of distant metastasis, SCLC can reach the adrenal gland, lymph nodes, brain, and bones.

How Fast Does Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Spread?

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer are more likely to be diagnosed before the cancer spreads to distant parts of the body. About 40% of NSCLC patients receive a metastatic diagnosis, as noted by Yale Medicine.

Many patients with NSCLC are diagnosed with a specific subtype called adenocarcinoma. This type doesn’t spread as quickly as other rarer subtypes like squamous cell carcinoma.

Non-small cell lung cancer can spread to lymph nodes, bones, kidneys, and other organs if it’s not diagnosed and treated early on.

What Causes Lung Cancer to Spread?

In order for lung cancer to spread, cancer cells from the original tumor location break off and travel to other areas of the body. They are able to do this through a person’s blood vessels or lymph nodes.

As this happens, the cancer cells also continue to multiply and attack the healthy cells around them, growing in both size and number at the same time.

Doctors use lung cancer stages to assess how far the tumors have spread:

• Stage 0: Cancer cells are found on the surface of the lung but haven’t formed a tumor.
• Stage 1: The tumor is small and contained to the lung.
• Stage 2: The tumor is large or lung cancer cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes, the pleura, diaphragm, and other nearby areas.
• Stage 3: Cancer has spread to lymph nodes farther away and to more nearby organs, such as the pericardium (heart lining). It may also grow deeper into the lung and chest.
• Stage 4: Distant metastasis has occurred, and the cancer may be found in both lungs, the brain, bones, liver, spinal column, distant lymph nodes, and more.

In the early stages, doctors may be able to remove or destroy all visible tumors, significantly limiting cancer spread. While destroying all cancer may not be possible at stages 3 or 4, therapies are also available that may slow the growth rate and give patients more time to live.

Where Does Lung Cancer Spread To?

After a tumor forms in the lung, malignant cells typically spread to nearby areas in the chest, such as the diaphragm and pleura. Without treatment, lung cancer can spread into the lymph system and then reach other areas of the body.

Learn about common places where lung cancer spreads below.

Lung Cancer Spread to Lymph Nodes

Lung cancer spread to the lymph nodes typically starts in stage 2, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

There are lymph nodes throughout your body, and they help filter out toxic substances. However, lung cancer cells can sometimes escape detection by the lymph system and use it to travel throughout the body.

Spread to local lymph nodes can often be easily treated. If doctors find lung cancer cells in distant lymph nodes, it means the cancer has likely reached a later stage and has spread through the body.

Lung Cancer Spread to Brain

Brain metastasis is very common in lung cancer, particularly among those with SCLC. Between 16% and 20% of all lung cancer cases spread to the brain, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). This occurs as part of metastasis in advanced cases.

Symptoms may include blurry vision, slurred speech, memory problems, headaches, and more. Lung cancer doctors typically treat brain tumors with radiation.

Lung Cancer Spread to Liver

The liver is another common site of distant metastasis for lung cancer. Between 17.5% and 20.5% of SCLC patients are diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to the liver, as noted by the ALA. Patients may experience symptoms like jaundice (skin and whites of the eyes turning yellow), abdominal pain, and fatigue.

Lung Cancer Spread to Bones

Cases of stage 4 lung cancer could spread to bones in the pelvis, spine, and limbs. Symptoms of lung cancer that has spread to bones vary, but can include worsening pain, weakness in the legs, and loss of bowel control.

“What my doctor said was, ‘you’re not having joint pain, you’re having bone pain.’”
— Jim, lung cancer survivor

Lung Cancer Spread to Bowels

It is rare for lung cancer to spread into the bowels, which are the organs that make up the digestive system. Only about 0.1% of patients who have lung cancer that has spread to the bowels experience symptoms, according to a 2022 Frontiers in Oncology report.

However, lung cancer doctors conducting autopsies found that between 4.6% and 12.2% of NSCLC patients did have tumors that reached their bowels.

How Fast Can Lung Cancer Spread to Other Parts of the Body?

Besides the common sites listed above, lung cancer can potentially appear throughout the body, as malignant cells can wind up anywhere by traveling through the lymph system.

Lung cancer can spread to:

• Adrenal glands
• Breast tissue
• Kidneys
• Liver
• Pleural lining
• Prostate
• Stomach
• Throat
• Thyroid

Even if doctors find that your lung cancer tumors have spread to other areas, it’s likely that there will be treatments available to ease symptoms and potentially help you live longer.

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn more about therapies that can help patients who have lung cancer that has spread.

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Signs & Symptoms That Lung Cancer Has Spread

The majority of lung cancer patients do not experience symptoms until their tumors have started to spread. General lung cancer symptoms include a cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Without treatment, these symptoms will worsen over time as the tumors grow.

In cases of metastatic lung cancer, patients can also develop unique signs and symptoms depending on where the tumors have spread.

Here are possible symptoms depending on the metastasis site:

• Bone pain when the cancer has spread to a person’s bones
• Headaches, dizziness, or seizures when cancer has spread to the brain
• Jaundice when the cancer has spread to a person’s liver
• Loss of appetite and weight loss when cancer reaches the adrenal glands

If you are experiencing any potential signs or symptoms of lung cancer, make sure to see a doctor immediately to start diagnostic testing. The sooner you see a specialist, the better your odds of catching the tumor before it has spread, making it easier to treat.

Diagnosing Lung Cancer Spread

Doctors diagnose lung cancer by first assessing your symptoms and then conducting a series of tests.

Tests to diagnose lung cancer and determine if it has spread include:

• Blood tests to look for biomarkers associated with lung cancer
• Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and MRIs to look for tumors
• Biopsies to remove a sample of fluid or tissue and test it for cancer

Biopsies are the only way to confirm if you have lung cancer or not. If a biopsy determines that you have lung cancer, doctors may also conduct imaging scans of other areas of your body besides the lungs to check for metastasis.

Can a Lung Biopsy Cause Cancer to Spread?

There is an extremely low chance that a lung biopsy can cause cancer to spread, because the process of extracting a sample may release malignant cells.

Leading medical organizations like the ACS and City of Hope note that cancer biopsies are extremely safe and that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks.

It’s crucial to consider getting a biopsy because there’s no way to know for certain if you have lung cancer. Without one, there’s no way to know for sure what type of cancer you have (if any), meaning you could receive ineffective treatments that allow your cancer to spread.

Treatment Options for Lung Cancer That Has Spread

How far lung tumors have spread plays a big role in determining which treatments will be best for patients. It’s important to remember that even if your cancer has spread, treatments will still be available for you.

Common treatments used to treat lung cancer that’s spread include:

• Chemotherapy: This treatment can be an option for all stages of lung cancer and is often used in combination with other types of treatment like surgery.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy can be used in early-stage lung cancer, but is more often used in late-stage cancer as a way of slowing down its spread and improving life expectancy.
• Palliative care: When cancers have spread very far, patients may instead choose palliative care to manage symptoms and improve their quality of life.
• Radiation therapy: Specialists may use lung cancer radiation in conjunction with other treatments to destroy a lung tumor, as well as treat tumors that have metastasized to the brain.
• Surgery: Doctors often recommend lung cancer surgery even in cases where the tumors have started to spread. Surgeries allow doctors to remove all visible tumors, giving patients the best chance of long-term survival. They are usually not recommended in cases of distant metastasis, however.
• Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy is similar to chemotherapy, but it works by targeting specific abnormalities that are found in cancer cells. It can help both early and advanced lung cancer cases.

Doctors will look at the unique factors in your case, such as your stage at the time of diagnosis, which type of lung cancer you have, and more, to create the best treatment plan for you.

How Fast Does Lung Cancer Spread Without Treatment?

It is very important to consider getting prompt treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer, as tumors can grow and spread quickly in some cases without treatment.

SCLC tumors doubled in size in just 71 days on average, according to a 2023 study from the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

By contrast, NSCLC volume doubling times vary greatly. For those with adenocarcinoma, the median doubling time was over 1 year in a 2023 Radiology study. Still, NSCLC can be aggressive and fatal without prompt care.

“Lung cancer without treatment leads to the tumor continuing to grow and spreading throughout the body.”

— Moffitt Cancer Center

Call (877) 446-5767 to get help if you or someone you love is facing lung cancer that may have spread.

Prognosis for Lung Cancer That Has Spread

The prognosis (health outlook) for someone with lung cancer that has spread varies greatly. Lung cancer prognosis can depend on cancer stage, type, and where tumors have grown.

Generally speaking, patients with earlier-stage lung cancer — where the tumors have not spread to distant organs — have a better prognosis.

Here are 5-year survival rates according to lung cancer spread:

• Localized: 65%
• Regional spread: 37%
• Distant spread (metastasis): 9%

It is important to note that every individual is different, and a person’s prognosis will always depend on the specific circumstances of their cancer and overall health. Even patients with metastatic lung cancer have become long-term survivors in some cases.

Factors That Affect Lung Cancer Spread

Besides the type of lung cancer, many elements play a role in how and where tumors spread through the body.

Factors in lung cancer spread include:

• Tumor biology: Certain genetic mutations can make some cancer cells more aggressive than others and spread faster.
• Immune system response: Lung cancer is likely to spread more quickly in someone who has a weakened immune system.
• Treatment response: In some instances, cancer cells may resist certain treatments (for example, chemotherapy drugs) and spread as a result.

Doctors will take these factors into account as you undergo treatment and closely monitor tumors. If your tumors continue to spread, they will recommend other options.

Get Help for Lung Cancer Spread

Knowing you have lung cancer can bring up a lot of concerns — particularly if your tumors have started to spread. However, by getting prompt treatment from experienced lung cancer specialists, you may be able to live longer and with a higher quality of life.

Lung Cancer Group may be able to help patients and their families navigate life after a diagnosis.

Work with our team to:

• Explore available treatment options
• Get compensation to cover medical expenses
• Receive the support you deserve

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 now to explore how we may be able to help you or someone you love.