The esophagus is a tube-like passage of food and drinks that runs from the pharynx to the stomach. There are different reasons why esophageal cancer develops such as habitual smoking, excessive drinking, constant acid reflux, obesity, and more.
Though esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, it is good to know that this disease can be prevented in many ways as well as detecting early signs and symptoms may lead to a higher chance of needing only mild treatment and full recovery. Here are the 10 most common signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer.
1. Difficulty Swallowing
The condition wherein ingesting food takes a lot of effort is called dysphagia. It is characterized by having a hard time swallowing especially with foods that are solid and hard even after chewing. Esophageal cancer may cause dysphagia and can even lead to different complications such as difficulty in breathing and pneumonia.
The disease is sometimes diagnosed incorrectly as odynophagia, which is a completely different illness that has similar signs. Sufferers of dysphagia may experience coughing up, asphyxiation, quivering voice, spitting up of food, and more. Dysphagia should not be disregarded, because a more serious underlying condition may be causing the difficulty in swallowing.
