Surgery is most often used for colorectal cancer, bone cancer or soft tissue sarcoma that has spread to the lungs. Cancer can also spread to areas outside of the lung, such as the pleura and mediastinum. Most lung metastases develop near the edges of the lungs and in the lower lobes. Sometimes there are many metastases in one or both lungs. Sometimes there is only a single metastasis in one lung. The most common cancers that spread to the lung are:Ĭancer can spread to anywhere in the lungs. Some kinds of cancer are more likely to spread to the lung than others.

Cancer that starts in the lung is different and is called primary lung cancer. It's sometimes called metastatic lung tumours. Cancer that starts in one part of the body and spreads to the lungs is called lung metastases.