Symptoms and Signs for Esophageal Cancer

Executive Summary

Esophageal cancer is diagnosed based on symptoms of esophageal cancer. The signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer experienced help in describing a medical problem. Some of the common symptoms of esophageal cancer include pain behind the breastbone or in the throat, difficulty and pain with swallowing, mainly when eating meat, bread, or raw vegetables. As the tumor grows, it can block the pathway to the stomach, cause coughing or hoarseness, pressure or burning in the chest, frequent choking on food, indigestion or heartburn, unexplained weight loss, and vomiting.

Signs and Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer

People with esophageal cancer can experience the following signs and symptoms ^​1​. A symptom is something that only the person experiencing it can identify and describe, like nausea, fatigue, or pain. A sign is something that people can identify and measure, like a fever, rash or an elevated pulse. Together, symptoms and signs can help describe a medical problem. Sometimes, people with esophageal cancer do not have any of the signs and symptom described below ^​2​. Or, the cause of a sign and symptom may be a medical condition that is not cancer.

• Pain behind the breastbone or in the throat
• Difficulty and pain with swallowing, mainly when eating meat, bread, or raw vegetables. As the tumor grows, it can block the pathway to the stomach. Even liquid may be painful to swallow.
• Coughing or hoarseness
• Pressure or burning in the chest
• Frequent choking on food
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vomiting

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