Esophageal Cancer Symptoms

Esophageal cancer is often difficult to detect in its early stages because it may not cause noticeable symptoms right away. As the cancer grows, it can begin to affect the way you eat, speak and feel. Paying attention to new or ongoing symptoms can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Early signs and symptoms

Most early esophageal cancers are found when a person sees their doctor for long-term acid reflux (a condition where stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus), and an endoscopy discovers a tumor that hasn’t caused noticeable symptoms yet.

These symptoms may appear when esophageal cancer is still in its early stages:

• Painful swallowing (odynophagia)
• Indigestion or heartburn that doesn’t go away
• Feeling of pressure, pain or burning in the chest or throat
• Reduced appetite
• Chronic cough or hoarseness
• Persistent hiccups

Late signs and symptoms

As the cancer progresses, symptoms can include:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), especially with solid foods
• Unintended weight loss
• Vomiting or regurgitation of food
• Black, tar-like stools (a possible sign of internal bleeding)
• Anemia (low red blood cell count), leading to fatigue and weakness
• Pneumonia, which may result from food or liquid entering the lungs due to swallowing problems

What does esophageal cancer feel like?

As esophageal cancer grows, it can cause uncomfortable physical sensations, including acid reflux. People may also feel chest pain, pressure, or burning, often mistaken for heartburn. Other symptoms include feeling full quickly, bloating, hoarseness, a chronic cough or vomiting. People may also have difficulty swallowing, which may feel like food is stuck in the throat or chest. This can start with solid foods and progress to liquids. While these symptoms can have other causes, they should be checked by a doctor early.

Conditions with similar symptoms

These symptoms usually do not mean you have esophageal cancer. Other conditions that share some of these symptoms include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Peptic ulcers
• Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
• Hiatal hernia
• Esophageal spasms or strictures
• Swallowing disorders (dysphagia not related to cancer)
• Vocal cord issues (can cause hoarseness)
• Anemia from other causes (such as diet or menstruation)

Because symptoms of esophageal cancer can be mistaken for other conditions, it’s important to be evaluated by a health care provider.

Risk factors

Several factors can increase your risk of developing esophageal cancer:

• Age: Most cases occur in people over 55
• Smoking and heavy alcohol use
• Chronic acid reflux or GERD
• Barrett’s esophagus: A condition caused by long-term acid reflux
• Obesity
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables
• Drinking very hot liquids frequently
• Family history of esophageal cancer
• Exposure to certain chemicals, especially in the workplace

When to see a doctor

You should talk to a doctor if you experience:

• Trouble swallowing, especially if it’s getting worse
• Persistent heartburn or chest discomfort
• Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
• Vomiting or spitting up undigested food
• Black stools or signs of bleeding
• Long-lasting hoarseness, hiccups, or cough
• Feeling unusually tired or weak

·       Persistent or uncontrolled reflux symptoms

Having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have esophageal cancer. But getting them checked early can help catch any problems sooner and improve your chances of effective treatment.

Learn more about esophageal cancer:

• Esophageal cancer diagnosis
• Esophageal cancer treatment