Esophageal Cancer Symptoms
Early cancer of the esophagus is usually asymptomatic (i.e., does not cause symptoms). In as many as 50% of cases, the disease is locally advanced or has already spread (metastasized) at the time of diagnosis. Signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer include the following:
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or painful swallowing (odynophagia)
- Hoarseness or chronic cough
- Iron-deficiency anemia (may be diagnosed through a blood test)
- Pain in the throat, back, behind the breastbone (sternum), or between the shoulder blades
- Severe weight loss
- Vomiting
