Metastatic breast cancer in the lung

A diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer in the lung means breast cancer cells have travelled from cancer in your breast to one or more sites in your lung or lungs. This is not the same as cancer that started in the lung.

What is metastatic breast cancer in the lung?

Metastatic breast cancer is invasive breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other sites in the body. The breast cancer cells travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to places such as the lungs. It is still breast cancer, so it is treated with breast cancer drugs not treatments for a cancer that began in the lungs.

Metastatic breast cancer deposits in the lung are called lung metastases or lung secondaries.

Other sites to which breast cancer can spread include the bone, liver and the brain.

Symptoms of lung metastases

Symptoms for metastatic breast cancer in the lung may be mild or severe. You may have several different symptoms or none at all.
The severity depends on:

• how much of the lung or lungs is affected
• whether you have any other health problems

Always tell your treating team about any symptoms you experience.

Breathlessness (dyspnoea)

One of the most common symptoms is feeling short of breath – ‘breathlessness’.

You may find:

• breathing is uncomfortable
• you can’t get enough air into your lungs
• you can only take very shallow breaths.

Usually you will notice this most when you are moving around. The shortness of breath may be worse when you lie down.

Shortness of breath can happen for several reasons:

• the lung may be inflamed as a result of the cancer
• there is a build-up of fluid in the pleural space (‘pleural effusion’) and this is preventing the lung from fully inflating
• the metastases in the lung may reduce the ability of the lung to function.

Cough

A cough that won’t go away (‘persistent’) is another common symptom of metastatic breast cancer in the lung. It may be caused by the cancer itself or by an infection. Sometimes you may cough up blood or mucus (‘phlegm’).

Loss of appetite and weight loss

The cancer, or the cancer treatment, may make you feel less hungry. As a result, you may lose weight. People often lose weight before their cancer is diagnosed. Find out ways to improve poor appetite related to metastatic breast cancer. 

Tiredness and fatigue

Several different things can cause you to feel tired or fatigued, such as:

• shortness of breath
• poor appetite
• the effects of the cancer itself, or treatment.

Find out how to manage fatigue and tiredness. 

Change in how your voice sounds

If the cancer presses on the nerve that runs to the vocal cords, it can cause your voice to become hoarse.

Swelling of the face and neck (SVCO)

Swelling can happen if the lymph nodes behind the chest bone ('sternum') become enlarged. They can put pressure on the main vein (the ‘superior vena cava’) that carries the blood from the head, neck and arms back to the heart.

This is called ‘superior vena cava obstruction’ (SVCO). It is a rare complication of lung metastases.

Treatment for metastatic cancer in the lung

Metastatic breast cancer in the lung can be treated and in many cases controlled for long periods. While it can’t be cured, people with lung metastases may live for many years and enjoy a good quality of life.

Read about treating metastatic breast cancer in the lung.

Resources

Metastatic breast cancer in the lung is part of our Hope and Hurdles resource. Hope and Hurdles includes a longer Information Guide about living with metastatic breast cancer. This can help you make informed decisions about your individual treatment, care and wellbeing.

Planning ahead can help you answer difficult questions. Use this guide to help you to think about, and discuss with others, your values, experiences and preferences. It can also provide a sense of relief when it is done, as you can then focus on living life fully.