Difficulty swallowing, difficulty swallowing, weight loss, pain in the chest behind the sternum when swallowing, hoarseness… are signs that can occur in people with esophageal cancer.
The esophagus is a part of the digestive tract, including the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon (large intestine), rectum, and anus. The digestive system has the role of receiving, transporting, decomposing food, absorbing nutrients, and removing waste from the body. Esophageal cancer is a condition in which the cells of the esophagus grow abnormally and uncontrollably.
There are two types of esophageal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (commonly found in the upper and middle esophagus) and adenocarcinoma (commonly found in the lower esophagus). Other less common types include sarcoma, lymphoma, small cell carcinoma, melanoma, etc.
Dr. Nguyen Chi Thanh, Oncology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that most esophageal cancers are detected at a late stage, making treatment difficult and expensive, thereby affecting the patient’s prognosis. Early detection of signs of esophageal cancer helps patients have a chance to cure the disease, prolong life and improve quality of life. Below are signs that can warn of esophageal cancer.
Difficulty swallowing is the most common symptom, appearing in most cases of esophageal cancer. Initially, the patient may choke when eating solid foods such as meat and fish. As the tumor grows and causes narrowing of the esophagus, the patient will have an increasing feeling of choking, even when eating liquid foods such as soup, porridge, etc.
Weight loss occurs in most cases of esophageal cancer. Weight loss occurs over a short period of time even when the patient is not on any diet. Weight loss is often accompanied by difficulty swallowing.
Chest pain behind the sternum when swallowing occurs when the patient eats solid food, including drinking water. The pain usually starts from the chest area behind the sternum, then can spread to the entire chest, back, epigastric region (above the navel).
Patients are cared for at the Oncology Department. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
Increased salivation Because food is stuck in the esophagus, saliva cannot follow the food down to the stomach. The patient feels a lot of saliva in the throat and has to spit more often.
Vomiting may occur during or immediately after a meal. Vomiting is food that has not reached the stomach and may be accompanied by a small amount of blood. As the disease progresses, vomiting may occur more frequently.
Black stool Due to blood flowing from the esophageal tumor through the digestive tract, the stool is dark black like coffee grounds. This condition leads to anemia in the long term, causing the patient to become exhausted.
Prolonged cough, coughing up blood It is usually a chronic, persistent cough that occurs when there is a lot of mucus stuck to the esophagus wall. This symptom is easily confused with other diseases such as tuberculosis, lung cancer…
Hoarseness often occurs when the esophageal tumor invades the recurrent laryngeal nerve (which controls vocal cord activity). Hoarseness often persists, with no signs of improvement despite the patient taking anti-inflammatory drugs.
Indigestion, belching, heartburn causing pain, discomfort in the upper abdomen or a burning sensation behind the sternum, belching, heartburn… Symptoms can occur at the same time or separately, often appearing after eating.
Dr. Thanh recommends that everyone have regular health screenings to detect early signs of esophageal cancer. When symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, difficulty swallowing, weight loss, increased salivation appear, etc., patients should go to a hospital with an Oncology department for timely examination, diagnosis and treatment.