Typical symptoms of esophageal cancer

Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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The most typical symptom of esophageal cancer is progressive difficulty swallowing, and a progressive sensation of swallowing obstruction is the most typical symptom. It's actually quite simple; the esophagus is akin to a water pipe or a tubular cavity. Esophageal cancer is like having a tumor grow inside this cavity, similar to something blocking the pipe, which causes the flow of water to be impeded. However, not only water passes through this esophagus, but also food. Therefore, if there's something inside the cavity, both water and food cannot pass through, leading to this difficulty swallowing and discomfort while swallowing.

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Esophageal cancer screening methods

The screening methods for esophageal cancer primarily involve checks of the esophagus, including upper gastrointestinal barium meal and gastroscopy. Gastroscopy, in particular, is a relatively accurate method for examining patients. This is because during a gastroscopy, biopsy samples can be taken, and pathology can definitively determine whether cancer is present. There might be issues regarding whether a patient can undergo a gastroscopy as it requires significant patient tolerance. Therefore, depending on the patient's health condition, if a gastroscopy is not feasible, an upper gastrointestinal barium meal can be conducted first.

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How long can one live with esophageal cancer?

The life expectancy of esophageal cancer patients depends on several factors such as the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, the patient's sensitivity to treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the effectiveness of these treatments, the patient's general condition, and whether they have other underlying diseases. Patients who can undergo radical surgery, especially those diagnosed at an early stage, generally have a better prognosis. Patients who respond well to treatment can also expect a better outcome. Therefore, there is significant individual variation in prognosis.

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Is esophageal cancer prone to bone metastasis?

Modes of spread and metastasis of esophageal cancer. In the early to mid-stages, the spread is mainly intramural, as the esophagus lacks a serosal layer, making it easy to directly invade adjacent organs. Lymphatic metastasis is also a major route of spread for esophageal cancer. In advanced stages, the cancer metastasizes through the bloodstream to the liver, lungs, kidneys, and even bones. In cases of bone metastasis, treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and anti-bone metastasis treatment can be chosen based on the patient's general condition. If the patient experiences significant pain, pain relief medication can be chosen according to the three-step ladder for cancer pain treatment to alleviate symptoms.

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How can esophageal cancer be diagnosed?

The diagnosis of esophageal cancer is primarily based on symptoms. In the early stages, symptoms are generally nonspecific or only mild and typically do not attract the patient's attention. In the mid to late stages, the most common symptom is progressive difficulty swallowing. Additional diagnostic methods include esophageal radiography, MRI, and CT scans. Moreover, cytological diagnosis, endoscopic ultrasound of the esophagus, direct endoscopic examination and pathological sampling under endoscopy are utilized. The gold standard for confirmation still requires pathological or cytological diagnosis.

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What are the early signs of esophageal cancer?

The early symptoms of esophageal cancer are often nonspecific and intermittent, thus many patients do not take them seriously and delay the condition. Clinically, common early symptoms of esophageal cancer include a choking sensation when swallowing food, which is more noticeable in patients who swallow dry food or other foods that are not well chewed in large bites. Additionally, there is discomfort or a feeling of fullness behind the sternum. Thirdly, there is a sensation of a foreign body in the esophagus, with about 20% of patients experiencing this sensation when swallowing, as well as dryness and a feeling of tightness in the throat. Furthermore, there is a slow passage and a sense of retention of food.