Esophageal Cancer

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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

Esophageal Cancer, Esophageal Cancer Symptoms reprinted with permission from oncologychannel.com
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