How can lung cancer (tumor) spread to the brain?

Lung cancer cells can metastasize to the brain through blood circulation. It's possible for small or microscopic cancer cells to travel throughout the body in this way. This is one reason that oncologist recommend systemic chemotherapy because it follows the same paths as the cancer does through the blood circulation.

You can read more about metastatic secondary lung cancers:

Brain, Metastases

http://www.emedicine.com/Radio/topic101.htm

Secondary Brain tumor

http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Brainsec...

Lung cancer that has spred to the brain

http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page...

My husband had thought he had hurt his back at work. He went to the hospital was told he had pneumonia and a cracked rib. Pain got worse. He went back 3 more time til a tech spotted something. He was admitted. He had a tumor on his spine. The next day March 20th he was diagnosed with lung cancer. It had spread everywhere. He also had a tumor on the brain. They erformed the gamma knife procedure on the brain tumor. He went thru radiation chemo gamma knife and took a drug called tarceva. He fought a hard fight and sadly he passed June 6th. Lung cancer is very aggresive. He had cancer in his sinus bones renal glands all over. So very sorry to hear about your mother in law. Stay strong I will be thinking of your family.

Cancers of the brain do not metastasize to other parts of the body, Lung cancer however does just that. So it would be lung cancer with mets to the brain. I have a friend dealing with just this situation now. With surgery and treatments she has done remarkably well and looks great these days. Treatment options these days are truly amazing. Good luck.

Individual cells from the tumor break off and travel through the lymphatic system to other parts of the body. Sorry to hear of your mother-in-laws illness and hope you can help her cope.

Cancer spreads through the lymphatic system. Once that system is infected, it usually means that the disease is terminal. Docs will usually quit treatments and just make the person comfortable for the remainder of the time they have left when this happens.

I am not a doctor or anything, but I don't think tumors spread, only cancers do.