The most obvious symptoms of esophageal cancer
Disease description:
Recently, I've felt some difficulty swallowing when eating, and occasionally experience chest pain. I'm a bit worried it might be esophageal cancer and would like to know what the most noticeable symptoms of esophageal cancer are.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Qi Zhirong
Common symptoms of esophageal cancer may include difficulty swallowing, throat pain, vomiting, chest pain, and hoarseness.
Difficulty swallowing is the most common symptom of esophageal cancer. In the early stages, patients may only feel a slight obstruction when food passes through the esophagus. As the disease progresses, difficulty swallowing gradually worsens, even to the point of being unable to swallow solid foods. Esophageal cancer can cause discomfort or pain in the throat area and sometimes leads to a dry throat or difficulty swallowing. Due to the obstruction of the passage for food, patients may experience nausea and vomiting, especially after eating.
When the tumor grows larger and compresses surrounding tissues, patients may feel pain in the chest or back. In advanced stages, the tumor may invade the recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing hoarseness or persistent throat pain. Additionally, some patients may experience symptoms similar to acid reflux; however, this does not necessarily indicate esophageal cancer and could also be caused by other digestive system disorders.
If the aforementioned symptoms appear, especially difficulty swallowing, it is important to seek medical attention early and undergo diagnostic procedures such as endoscopy and CT scans to confirm the diagnosis.
