Esophageal Cancer: Symptoms

People with esophageal cancer may have symptoms. Some people who have early-stage disease do not have many symptoms, which means the cancer may not be detected right away. Symptoms may include:

• Food sticks in the esophagus and will not pass all the way to the stomach; you may choke or vomit up food that becomes stuck,
• Painful swallowing,
• Pain in the chest or back,
• Weight loss,
• Fatigue,
• Heartburn and/or
• Coughing or hoarseness.

These symptoms may be caused by esophageal cancer or by other health conditions. Testing is done to make a diagnosis and determine the best treatment plan.