Esophageal Cancer Symptoms
A symptom can be something that only the person experiencing it can acknowledge and describe, such as tiredness, pain, or nausea. A sign can be something that other people around that person can pinpoint and measure, such as a rash, fever, or an elevated pulse. The signs and symptoms may help in describing a medical problem. (2)
Most signs of warning in the cancer of the esophagus are associated with problems related to eating, drinking, and absorption. It may be possible that esophageal cancer may have no clarity in symptoms in the initial stages. The early symptom people may notice can be difficulty in the swallowing process. As the tumour multiplies, it constricts the esophageal opening, resulting in difficult or painful swallowing. Moreover, other symptoms of esophageal cancer may include:
- Pain in the throat or back, behind the breastbone, or between the shoulder blades
- Vomiting or coughing up blood
- Heartburn
- Hoarseness
- Unintentional weight loss
- Chest pain
- Hoarseness
- Chronic cough
- Difficulty in swallowing (can also be called dysphagia)
- Bone pain (if there is the growth of cancer in the bone)
- Painful or difficult swallowing.
- Indigestion and heartburn.
- A lump under the skin.
- Bleeding into the esophageal region. This blood may pass via the digestive tract, which may result in melena. As time passes, this loss of blood may lead to anaemia (a decrease in the levels of red blood cells), which can make a person feel tired.
These and many other signs and symptoms may be caused due to esophageal cancer or by many other circumstances.
Moreover, if a person has one or more symptoms, it does not mean that he or she has esophageal cancer. In fact, several of the symptoms are more likely to be caused due to other conditions. Still, if a person has any of these symptoms, especially trouble swallowing, it is necessary to have them checked by a physician so that the cause can be known and the treatment may be done if needed.