6 early symptoms of esophageal cancer

We all know that esophageal cancer is a very common digestive tract tumor, and about 300,000 people die from esophageal cancer every year. Although the symptoms of esophageal cancer are not very obvious in the early stages, you can still find some clues if you observe carefully.

6 early symptoms of esophageal cancer:

Generally speaking, the early symptoms of esophageal cancer are mainly manifested in the following points:

1. Dry throat

One-third of patients complained of dryness and tightness in the throat, difficulty or slight pain in swallowing food, which was particularly noticeable when swallowing dry or rough food.

2. Foreign body sensation in the esophagus

The patient feels that there are rice grains or vegetable slices attached to the esophageal wall, which he cannot swallow or spit out. It has nothing to do with eating. Even if he does not swallow, he still feels like there is a foreign body. The location of the foreign body sensation is consistent with the location of the esophageal lesion.

3. Food passes slowly and remains in the body

Drinking water also has the same feeling. In addition, some patients have symptoms such as heaviness in the back and belching.

4. There is a feeling of stuffiness and discomfort behind the sternum

Experts say that people can only vaguely feel chest discomfort, but cannot point out the location of the discomfort, and it is difficult to describe the specific circumstances of the discomfort.

5. Pain behind the sternum

This symptom is more common in patients with early esophageal cancer. There is often slight pain behind the sternum when swallowing food, and the location of the pain can be felt. The nature of the pain can be burning pain, needle-like pain, pulling and friction pain.

The severity of the pain is related to the nature of the food. The pain is more severe when swallowing rough, hot or irritating food; the pain is less severe when swallowing liquid, warm food. The pain is felt when swallowing food, and it is relieved or even disappears after eating. Most of these symptoms can be treated with medication and temporarily relieved, but they will recur after a few days or months, and they will recur and last for a long time.

6. Pain under the xiphoid process

The patient may feel a burning pain under the xiphoid process, which may be mild or severe, and often occurs when swallowing food, and may be relieved or disappear after eating. Some patients may also feel a persistent dull pain, which has little to do with eating.

How to detect esophageal cancer:

The symptoms of early esophageal cancer are not very obvious and can be easily ignored, which eventually leads to the day-by-day deterioration of the disease and a downward curve in the cure rate. Therefore, effective examination methods should be used to diagnose esophageal cancer in a timely manner so that esophageal cancer can be treated effectively.

1. X-ray barium meal examination

It is one of the important means of diagnosing esophageal and cardia tumors, and can provide reliable data for the study of early esophageal cancer. Combining cytology and esophageal endoscopy can improve the accuracy of esophageal cancer diagnosis. X-ray barium meal examination of esophageal cancer not only determines the location, length and degree of obstruction of the lesion, but also determines whether the esophageal lesion has invaded and the scope of invasion.

2. Esophageal exfoliative cytology examination

It is one of the commonly used methods for diagnosing esophageal cancer. The exfoliative cytology examination method is relatively simple, causes little pain to patients, and has a low misdiagnosis rate. Patients with hypertension, esophageal varices, severe heart disease, and lung disease are contraindicated for this examination method.

3. Diagnosis of esophageal cancer: esophageal fiberoptic endoscopy

Fiberoptic esophagoscopy has been widely used in the diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Esophagoscopy can directly observe the size, shape and location of the tumor, providing a basis for treatment for clinicians. It can also perform biopsy or endoscopic examination at the lesion site, which improves the safety of esophageal cancer examination to a certain extent, so as to better treat esophageal cancer. Esophagoscopy combined with exfoliative cytology is an ideal diagnostic method for esophageal cancer.

Once you suspect esophageal cancer, it is best to go to the hospital for examination and treatment in time.