Metastasis may also be simply referred to as cancer spread.
These symptoms may occur alongside respiratory and other symptoms resulting from your primary cancer.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
What Are Liver Metastases?
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Metastases are tumors that have spread from the primary cancer to other parts of the body.
If you have liver metastases, this means that the cancer cells are growing in your liver.
Liver metastases may also be called “secondary liver cancer.”
For people withnon-small cell lung cancer, cancer that has spread to the liver is consideredstage 4.
Withsmall cell lung cancer, it is consideredextensive stage.
What is the difference between metastatic liver cancer and secondary liver cancer?
Why Does Lung Cancer Spread to the Liver?
How Common Are Liver Metastases?
Oftentimes, lung cancer will spread to more than one area of the body.
For example, it’s common to have both liver metastases and brain metastases.
What is the life expectancy for someone with lung cancer that has spread to the liver?
This can result in severe and frustrating itching.
If there is uncertainty, your healthcare provider may recommend a liver biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
When many metastases are present, external beam radiation may be used to improve quality of life.
Clinical trials are in progress to further evaluate the benefit of metastasectomy for oligometastases with liver cancer.
As of 2024, severalclinical trialsare in process that will hopefully answer this question.
Support
It can be devastating to learn that your cancer has metastasized.
First, keep in mind that treatments for lung cancer are improvingeven for the most advanced stages.
The National Cancer Institute recommends that people with advanced lung cancer consider taking part in a clinical trial.
A navigator can help to match your specific lung cancer with clinical trials available anywhere in the world.
Metastases to the liver are common in people with lung cancer.
It is usually diagnosed with an imaging test such as a CT scan or MRI.
Treatment is typically palliative, though there are new treatment options that can help improve symptoms and increase lifespan.
Cancer Research UK.Stages and types of lung cancer.
2016;7(33):53245-53253. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.10644
American Lung Association.Liver metastasis from lung cancer.
The survival benefit in primary unresectable cases.Int J Surg.
2015;21(5):404-12. doi:10.1097/PPO.0000000000000143
