The esophagus is a hollow tube which connects your throat and mouth to your stomach. Despite its seeming simplicity, the esophagus is actually a complex organ. It contains several layers of tissue, including an extensive array of smooth muscles. These smooth muscles are used to propel food down your throat and into your stomach. As with any organ, the esophagus is capable of becoming cancerous. Esophageal cancer is an extremely deadly form of cancer, as there are not many effective treatments to deal with it. It is estimated that over 16,000 Americans are diagnosed with esophageal cancer each year.
Because of this large number, and the high mortality rate esophageal cancer is associated with, it is important to be able to identify the symptoms as early as possible. The earlier a cancer is detected, the better chance doctors have of being able to effectively treat the disease.
Unfortunately, esophageal cancer often does not present any symptoms at all until it has progressed to a serious stage. Early stages of esophageal cancer typically have few or no symptoms. As the disease progresses, people will begin to experience a limited number of symptoms, mostly localized to the throat and chest area.
One of the first symptoms experienced by a person with esophageal cancer is known as dysphagia. Dysphagia is a fancy medical term which simply means that a person has difficulty swallowing. Difficulty swallowing associated with esophageal cancer happens because the tumor is blocking a significant portion of the esophagus. Over half of the diameter of the esophagus must be blocked before a person will begin having difficulty swallowing food.
Difficulty swallowing usually begins with solid foods. People naturally will compensate for this difficulty by cutting their food into smaller pieces, or chewing more carefully. As esophageal cancer progresses, it is possible that a person could begin having difficulty drinking liquids.
A side effect of having difficulty eating is weight loss. Weight loss is not one of the first symptoms seen in esophageal cancer, but rather something that develops insidiously over time. As a person with the cancer finds it harder and harder to eat, they will consume less calories each day, and subsequently lose weight.
Some people will experience pain in their throat or upper chest. This is not a symptom seen in every person with esophageal cancer, however it is not rare either. Pain associated with esophageal cancer can easily be confused with other common medical problems. Gastroesophageal reflux, commonly known as GERD, is very common and causes a heartburn-like pain which can easily mimic the pain seen esophageal cancer.
In the later stages of esophageal cancer is possible for a person’s voice to become hoarse and scratchy. Hiccups are commonly seen in later stages as well. It is important to note that most people with a hoarse voice and hiccups do not have esophageal cancer. These symptoms are very general and are never used to diagnose this disease.
In severe cases of esophageal cancer, it is possible for the tissues in the esophagus to bleed. A person with esophageal cancer could then cough up blood from time to time. If the blood flows down into the stomach and through your gastrointestinal system, it will appear in your stool. By then however, the blood will turn very dark. This makes your stool appear almost black.
Esophageal cancer is most common in people over the age of 50. In addition there are very specific risk factors involved in the development of esophageal cancer. If you feel that you could be suffering from symptoms of esophageal cancer, make an appointment to see your doctor and have your condition evaluate it properly.
