According to the American Cancer Society, esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a survival rate of just 20%. However, the sooner people visit a doctor, the better their recovery chances. Therefore, it’s vital to recognize the most common symptom of esophageal cancer.
Keep reading to learn more.
Pay Attention to Your Ease of Swallowing
The single most common symptom of esophageal cancer is a condition called dysphagia. This condition causes difficulty swallowing.
Granted, you may have trouble swallowing your food from time to time when you don’t chew properly or eat too fast. But, if this issue persists, it might be a sign of a severe medical condition.
People with dysphagia might feel like food is stuck in their throats. The worse the condition gets, the more impossible it becomes to swallow, as the opening inside the esophagus becomes smaller.
Once swallowing becomes too hard, people typically change their eating habits and diet without realizing it. They eat less and take smaller bites.
As the condition progresses, they tend to turn to soft food that they can chew more easily. Depending on how bad the sensation gets, some people stop eating solid food altogether. Unfortunately, if cancer grows large enough, even liquid foods become too difficult to swallow.
Another side-effect of dysphagia is excess saliva, resulting from the body trying to help pass the food.
Talk to Your Doctor
Though esophageal cancer isn’t as widespread as other forms of cancer, pay attention to its possible signs. If you experience prolonged trouble swallowing, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. When diagnosed on time, this cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.
