Metastatic lung cancer
Unfortunately advanced cancer can’t usually be cured. But treatment might control it, help symptoms, and improve your quality of life for some time.
A cancer might be advanced when it is first diagnosed. Or it may come back some time after you were first treated. This is called recurrent cancer.
Locally advanced cancer is cancer that has spread into tissues around the lungs and might have spread into nearby lymph nodes. It includes TNM stages 3A, 3B or 3C lung cancer. This is different to metastatic lung cancer.
Read more about stage 3 lung cancer
Not all lung cancers will spread. But if the cancer does spread there are certain parts of the body that it is more likely to go to. The most common areas for lung cancer to spread to are:
nearby or a single distant lymph node
the brain
bones
the liver
the
other parts of the lung or the other lung
Find out about stages and types of lung cancer
Finding out that you can’t be cured is distressing and can be a shock. It’s common to feel uncertain and anxious. It's normal to not be able to think about anything else.
Lots of information and support is available to you, your family and friends. Some people find it helpful to find out more about their cancer and the treatments they might have. Many people find that knowing more about their situation can make it easier to cope.
Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse to understand:
what your diagnosis means
what is likely to happen
what treatment is available
how treatment can help you
what the side effects of the treatment are
You might feel that you don’t want to know much information straight away. Tell your doctor or nurse. You will always be able to ask for more information when you are ready.
Everyone is different and there is no right way to feel.
Read more about coping and support when you have lung cancer
Many people want to know what the outlook is and how their cancer will develop. This is different for each person. Your doctor is the best person to discuss this with you because they have all the information about your cancer.
You can also talk to your specialist nurse. Or you can phone the Cancer Research UK nurses on 0808 800 4040, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
We have some general information about survival for lung cancer if this is something you want to read about.
Last reviewed: 08 Oct 2025
Next review due: 09 Oct 2028
The symptoms of metastatic lung cancer can vary depending on where the cancer has spread to.
Your treatment depends on several factors. These include what type of lung cancer you have, how big it is and whether it has spread (the stage). It also depends on your general health.
There is support available during and after treatment to help you cope. This includes support from your clinical nurse specialist, cancer charities, community services, and family and friends.
Survival depends on many factors including the stage and type of your lung cancer.
Cancer can cause fluid to collect around the lungs causing problems with breathing. This fluid build up is called a pleural effusion.
Lung cancer starts in the windpipe (trachea), the main airway (bronchus) or the lung tissue. Cancer that starts in the lung is called primary lung cancer.
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Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
